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COST OF GENERATION DATA

This page summarizes cost data from the Energy Commission, 2009 Comparative Costs of California Central Station Electricity Generation (publication # CEC-200-2009-017-SF). Supporting assumptions can be found in Chapter 2 and the associated appendices of the Report.

Contact: Joel Klein, jklein@energy.ca.gov

Table 1 summarizes the estimated levelized costs in $/MWh for generating technologies coming on line in the year 2009. Average, high and low levelized costs are shown for the three classes of developers.

The values shown in Table 1 are extracted from the Cost of Generation Model provided in support of the Comparative Costs of California Central Station Electricity Generation (Cost of Generation) report and used to provide Figure 2 on page 5 of the report.

Table 2 summarizes this same data for technologies coming on line in 2018. Note that there are three additional technologies estimated to be available in 2018 that were not deemed to be available in 2009: Nuclear, Ocean Wave and Offshore Wind.

The values shown in Table 2 are extracted from the Cost of Generation Model provided in support of the Comparative Costs of California Central Station Electricity Generation (Cost of Generation ) report and used to provide Figure 17 on page 35 of the report.

Table 1: Summary of Levelized Costs by Developer -- In-Service Year = 2009

Levelized Costs by Developer Year 2009
Source: California Energy Commission, Electricity Analysis Office

Table 2: Summary of Levelized Costs by Developer -- In-Service Year = 2018

Levelized Costs by Developer Year 2018
Source: California Energy Commission, Electricity Analysis Office

Levelized costs are typically used to compare the cost of one technology against another. However, care must be taken in using these or any levelized costs. Average levelized cost estimates are based on a specific set of assumptions, but the costs in various projects can vary greatly, depending on the specific generation project. This is why the above costs are provided as a bandwidth of costs. Levelized costs do not account for system factors, such as environmental impact, system diversity, risk, and the impact the technology will have on a system. The selection of a technology should never be based on levelized costs only.

Figures

Figure 1: Summary of Average Levelized Costs-In-Service in 2009

Figure 1: Summary of Average Levelized Costs-In-Service in 2009
Source: California Energy Commission

Figure 2: Range of Levelized Cost for a Merchant Plant In-Service in 2009

Figure 2: Range of Levelized Cost for a Merchant Plant In-Service in 2009
Source: California Energy Commission

Figure 8: Average Instant Cost Trend (Real 2009 $/kW)

Figure 8: Average Instant Cost Trend (Real 2009 $/kW)
Source: California Energy Commission

Figure 17: Range of Levelized Cost for Merchant Plant In-Service in 2018

Figure 17: Range of Levelized Cost for Merchant Plant In-Service in 2018
Source: California Energy Commission



 

Last Modified: 04/12/12