Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 7.1
Indicative cost and performance data for renewable energy and conventional plant. (Cour-
tesy of David Milborrow.)
Technology
Capital cost
(
€
/kW)
O & M costs
(
€
cents/kW h)
Capacity
factor (%)
Fuel cost
(
€
cents/kW h)
Onshore wind
1000 - 1500
0.9 - 1.5
20 - 50
a
—
Offshore wind
1500 - 2000
1.5 - 3
30 - 40
a
—
1500 - 2700
b
70 - 85
c
Biomass (energy crops)
0.9 - 1.5
0.5 - 1.5
Landfi ll gas
450 - 1300
1.3 - 2.7
70 - 90
—
4.5 - 7.5
d
e
Municipal waste
2300 - 6000
70 - 85
Geothermal
1500 - 3000
0.75 - 2.3
75 - 85
Photovoltaics
5000 - 7000
0.15 - 0.8
8 - 15
2.3 - 3
f
Gas (CCGT)
450 - 700
0.3 - 0.8
85
Coal
1000 - 1100
0.8 - 1.5
75 - 80
1.5 - 2.3
Nuclear
1700 - 2300
0.5 - 1.2
85 - 90
0.6 - 1.1
a
Depends on wind speed.
b
High cost plant is more effi cient.
c
Production falls after about 15 years.
d
Depends on the mix of waste.
e
Cost negative (∼ 4.5 - 9
€
cents/kW h), but steady supply needed.
f
Gas prices are relatively volatile.
productivity (kW h per kW) of plant varies signifi cantly with the resource. Solar installations
near to the equator are generally more productive than those in, say, Sweden or New Zealand.
Wind energy variations are more extreme; the windiest regions are New Zealand, the British
Isles and Antarctica, while equatorial regions tend to have very low average wind speeds.
Table 7.1 summarizes the key parameters associated with renewable energy technologies
and conventional plant so that a comparison can be made. The table also includes notes as
to how these vary.
Fuel cost
is zero for most types of renewable energy but not for energy
crops, where it is positive, nor for the waste-burning technologies, where it can be negative
if landfi ll dumping costs are avoided. It must be emphasized that the costs quoted are intended
to give an appreciation of a possible range of levels, but are not exact and do not apply to
all applications.
Table 7.1 indicates the three components of electricity generation costs:
1. The capital cost includes the cost of the plant; land acquisition (unless a rent is paid, in
which case this is a running cost); grid connection, although in some European states the
utility has to bear the cost; and initial fi nancing costs (as opposed to repayment costs).
The way that capital costs translate into a component of generation costs is discussed in
the next section.
2. Operating and maintenance (O&M) costs include insurance, rent and rates set by the local
administrative authority, as well as the costs of labour and materials used for operations
and maintenance.
3. Fuel costs.
