Projected Cost of Electricity in Fifteen Years—Eight Energy Technologies

I just blogged about the Yosemite solar panel boondoggle. I got to thinking that H&R readers might like to see the projected levelized costs of electricity in the new Electric Power Research Institute report. Remember again that levelized costs take into account all capital, fuel, and financing costs. In 2015, solar will be 4 to 7 times and onshore wind as much as twice as expensive as coal and natural gas electricity generation. 

But what about by 2025? Surely costs for renewables will go down? 

And indeed they do. The coal estimates include the extra costs for carbon capture and sequestration. Photovoltaic looks better but is still twice to three times more expensive than nuclear and carbon-neutral coal. In any case, I offer these tables for your delectation.