Renewable Energy Cost of Generation Update - INTERIM CONSULTANT REPORT

Publication Number:    CEC-500-2009-084

Abstract:

This 2009 report updates the cost of generating electricity for technologies if built in California. California Energy Commission staff provides factors that affect costs, including cost assumptions, for 15 renewable technologies, coal-integrated gasification, combined-cycle, and nuclear power generation alternatives for utility-scale generation technologies. These costs are useful in evaluating the financial feasibility of a generation technology and for comparing the costs of building and operating one particular energy technology with another. These estimates update the 2007 cost of generation, based on empirical data collected from operating facilities, research from primary sources, actual costs and surveys of expected costs from experts in the field, and reference documents. This report details a range of instant and installed costs with projected costs based on two years of significant growth in renewable technologies, changes in material costs, and inflation. 

Keywords: Renewable energy, cost of generation, biomass, geothermal, hydropower, solar, parabolic trough, photovoltaic, PV, thermal solar, wind energy, ocean wave, integrated gasification combined-cycle, IGCC, nuclear

Author(s):  Kevin Sullivan, Charles O'Donnell, Pete Baumstark, Valerie Nibler, Karin Corfee

Commission Division:    Technology Systems Division - R&D, PIER (500)

Office/Program:    PIER: Public Interest Energy Research

PIER Program Area:    Renewable Energy Technologies

Date Report Completed:    August 2009

Date On Line:    08/05/2009

Acrobat PDF File Size: 272 pages, 3,100 kilobytes**