2025 solar and wind energy costs charted

The capital cost to install a 20 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility by 2015 will be US$7981/kW, according to a report from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI).

That capital cost remains static until 2025, EPRI predicts in Integrated Generation Technology Options: Technical Update, November 2009 and the levelised cost to generate electricity will also remain static at US$456/MWh.

The prediction assumes 10% efficiency for solar PV modules and a capacity factor of 26%. Solar thermal trough technology will cost US$4851-6300/kW by 2015, and will generate solar electricity at US$225-290/MWh. By 2025 costs remain static. The capital cost to install a 100 MW wind farm will be US$2350 by 2015 and also remain static to 2025, although the cost of wind energy generation will drop from US$99/MWh to US$82 over the decade.

 

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