Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 14.
Estimates of the cost of near-term electricity generation. This table shows estimates by the U.S. Energy Information
Administration of the costs of different kinds of power generation. Note that the renewable sources or low-carbon-emissions
CCS are much more costly.
Emissions
rate
(tCO
2
/MWH)
Capital and
other fi xed
Date of
availability
Status of
technology
Plant type
Variable
Total
Conventional
combined-cycle
natural gas
2.05
4.56
6.61
Today
Mature
0.60
Conventional coal
7.05
2.43
9.48
Today
Mature
1.06
Wind
9.70
0.00
9.70
Today
Mature
0.00
Geothermal
9.22
0.95
10.17
Today
Developing
0.00
Advanced coal
8.41
2.57
10.98
2020
Developing
0.76
Biomass
7.02
4.23
11.25
2020
Developing
0.00
Solar photovoltaic
21.07
0.00
21.07
Today
Developing
0.00
Solar thermal
31.18
0.00
31.18
Today
Developing
0.00
Advanced natural
gas with CCS
3.97
4.96
8.93
2030
Early-stage
0.06
Advanced nuclear
10.22
1.17
11.39
2025
Early-stage
0.00
Advanced coal
with CCS
10.31
3.31
13.62
2030
Early-stage
0.11
