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What is the actual cost of generating electricity?

Stephen Biddle
Hi All

There are many arguments going on about the merits of the various sources of electricity.  Most of the arguments in the media are carried out without the use of facts.  I want to collect some real data on the subject.  So I've chosen the six mature technologies for electricity generation.  Please send me any figures or references based on actual current technology.

The questions is this; considering life time cost ie the total cost of construction, operation and disposal plus battery storage for wind and solar, what is the unit cost and C02 output for electricity generation from:



Coal



Gas



Oil



Solar



Wind



Nuclear

 


Any snippets will be gratefully received and will to go into a giant spreadsheet.  I'll publish the results here.


Thanks


Stephen
  • Former Community Member
    0 Former Community Member
    How will you add the 'intangible' cost of the environmental, health and consequential impacts of any of these energy supply chains: extraction, transport, processing to usable format, Life Cycle costs of materials used in the generation technology, whole life emissions, post generation waste storage, final de-commissioning and disposal, remediation of land, air, water pollution, energy use health impact and other uses?
  • 0
    I will elaborate the model, but first I wan't to start with the simple facts. 


    I was commissioning a new coal fired power station last month in Poland, which as far as I know produces the most pollution of all the alternatives, so I presume it must be that the coal is really cheep.  Before that I was commissioning a gas powered one in Oman and before that a coal one in Chile.  It got me wondering abut factors that lead to the choice of construction of the projects.


    My role in all of these has been as an electrical engineer, so I don't get to see the business cases.


    Stephen
  • 0
    Look at this site    https://nottenergy.com/our-services/resources/energy-cost-comparison/   Really IET should ask National grid to prepare a list of fuel types and the cost per kWhr to generate.  It would benefit all our members.  Wind, nuclear, tidal/wave and hydrogen appear not to be included here.

  • 0
    Also cost is only one factor in the choices. The situation in the US at the moment is very interesting - coal may or may not be the cheapest solution (in the short term or long term), but in any case that can be less significant than the political risk of closing coal mines and losing the jobs. Or, more to the point, the political kudos of keeping coal mines open.


    Cheers,


    Andy

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