Table 1. Updated estimates of power plant capital and operating costs

Plant Characteristics

Plant Costs (2012$)

Nominal Capacity (MW)

Heat Rate (Btu/kWh)

Overnight Capital Cost ($/kW)

Fixed O&M Cost ($/kW-yr)

Variable O&M Cost ($/MWh)

NEMS Input

   Coal

Single Unit Advanced PC

650

8,800

$3,246

$37.80

$4.47

N

Dual Unit Advanced PC

1,300

8,800

$2,934

$31.18

$4.47

Y

Single Unit Advanced PC with CCS

650

12,000

$5,227

$80.53

$9.51

Y

Dual Unit Advanced PC with CCS

1,300

12,000

$4,724

$66.43

$9.51

N

Single Unit IGCC

600

8,700

$4,400

$62.25

$7.22

N

Dual Unit IGCC

1,200

8,700

$3,784

$51.39

$7.22

Y

Single Unit IGCC with CCS

520

10,700

$6,599

$72.83

$8.45

N

   Natural Gas

Conventional CC

620

7,050

$917

$13.17

$3.60

Y

Advanced CC

400

6,430

$1,023

$15.37

$3.27

Y

Advanced CC with CCS

340

7,525

$2,095

$31.79

$6.78

Y

Conventional CT

85

10,850

$973

$7.34

$15.45

Y

Advanced CT

210

9,750

$676

$7.04

$10.37

Y

Fuel Cells

10

9,500

$7,108

$0.00

$43.00

Y

   Uranium

Dual Unit Nuclear

2,234

N/A

$5,530

$93.28

$2.14

Y

   Biomass

Biomass CC

20

12,350

$8,180

$356.07

$17.49

N

Biomass BFB

50

13,500

$4,114

$105.63

$5.26

Y

   Wind

Onshore Wind

100

N/A

$2,213

$39.55

$0.00

Y

Offshore Wind

400

N/A

$6,230

$74.00

$0.00

Y

   Solar

Solar Thermal

100

N/A

$5,067

$67.26

$0.00

Y

Photovoltaic

20

N/A

$4,183

$27.75

$0.00

N

Photovoltaic

150

N/A

$3,873

$24.69

$0.00

Y

   Geothermal  

Geothermal – Dual Flash

50

N/A

$6,243

$132.00

$0.00

N

Geothermal – Binary

50

N/A

$4,362

$100.00

$0.00

N

   Municipal Solid Waste

Municipal Solid Waste

50

18,000

$8,312

$392.82

$8.75

N

   Hydroelectric

Conventional Hydroelectric

500

N/A

$2,936

$14.13

$0.00

N

Pumped Storage

250

N/A

$5,288

$18.00

$0.00

N