Nuclear Energy Cost Competitive

Estimated Levelized Cost of New Electric Generation in 2016

Plant Type

Capacity
Factor
(%)

Solar PV
Solar Thermal
Wind - Offshore
Wind - Land
Advanced Coal with CCS
Nat .Gas Advanced CC with CCS
Hydro
Biomass
Advanced Nuclear
Geothermal
Conventional Coal
Natural Gas Conventional CC

21.7
31.2
33.4
35.1
85
87
52
83
90
90
85
87

Average Levelized Costs for Power Plants Entering Service in 2016

(2007 dollars/megawatt-hour)
Total
Levelized
Variable O&M
Transmission
System
Capital
Fixed O&M
(including
Investment
Levelized
Cost
fuel)
Cost

376.6
232.1
193.6
122.7
87.4
43.6
97.2
71.7
84.2
86.0
64.5
23.0

6.2
21.3
27.5
10.3
6.2
2.6
3.3
8.9
11.4
20.7
3.7
1.6

0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
25.2
65.8
6.1
23.0
8.7
0.0
23.0
55.7

12.9
10.3
8.6
8.5
3.8
3.7
5.6
3.9
3.0
4.8
3.5
3.7

395.7
263.7
229.6
141.5
122.6
115.7
114.1
107.4
107.3
111.5
94.6
83.9

Source: Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Outlook, April 2009 SR-OIAF/2009-03