World Energy Outlook 2006

Table 13.9: Main Cost and Technology Parameters of Plants Starting Commercial Operation in 2015
Parameter Unit Nuclear CCGT Coal steam IGCC Wind onshore
Capacity factor % 85 85 85 85 28
Thermal efficiency (net, LHV) 1 % 33 58 44 46 –
Investment cost2 $ per kW 2 000 - 2 500 650 1 400 1 600 900
Construction period months 60 36 48 54 18
Plant life years 40 25 40 40 20
Decommissioning3 $ million 350 0 0 0 0
Annual incremental capital cost $ per kW 20 6 12 14 10
Unit cost of fuel4 $ per MBtu 0.50 per 6.00 per 55 per 55 per –
or tonne MBtu MBtu tonne tonne
Fuel escalation rate annual, % 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 –
Waste management cents per kWh 0.1 – – – –
Total O&M5 $ per kW 65 25 50 55 20
O&M escalation rate annual % 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.5
Carbon intensity of the fuel6 t CO2 per toe – 2.43 4.21 4.21 –
1. Lower heating value (LHV) is the heat liberated by the complete combustion of a unit of fuel when the water produced is assumed to remain as a vapor and the heat is not recovered.
For coal and oil, the difference between lower and higher calorific value is approximately 5%; for most natural gas and manufactured gas it is approximately 9-10%.
2. Total capital expenditure for the project, excluding the cost of finance.
3. Assumes a fund is accumulated over the first 20 years of operation.
4. Coal and gas prices are OECD import prices. They are increased by about 10% in the model to reflect the cost of delivery to power stations. A coal price of $55 per tonne
corresponds to $2.20 per MBtu. Nuclear fuel cost includes uranium, enrichment, conversion, and fabrication.
5. Total non-fuel operating and maintenance costs are assumed to be fixed.
6. CO2 intensity refers to electricity generation only. Life-cycle emissions are somewhat higher and are not zero for wind and nuclear power (but still negligible compared with coal
or gas).
Sources: IEA databases and NEA/IEA (2005).
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© OECD/IEA, 2007