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TABLE 2-3: Representative Cost Estimates for Selected Central
and Off-Grid Power Generation Facilitiesw


Fuel and Plant Type

Capacity

Efficiency

Capital Costs ($/kW)

Fixed Costs ($/kW-yr)

Variable Costs ($/kWh)

Natural Gas
Conventional Gas Turbine

80 MW

28%

368

31

0.064

Best Gas Turbine

140 MW

29.5%

355

28

0.060

Advanced Turbine

80 MW

41%

440

59

0.040

Conventional Combined Cycle

120 MW

43%

503

44

0.041

Best New Combined Cycle

210 MW

45%

473

42

0.038

Advanced Combined Cycle

100 MW

50%

600

63

0.033

Coal
Conventional Steam Turbine

1000 MW

34%

1290

136

0.027

Best New Coal (CIG/CC)

800 MW

38.2%

1489

142

0.022

Advanced Coal (CIG/ISTIG)

109 MW

42.1%

1121

135

0.018

Nuclear (Chinese Installation)x

1809

42 - 180

0.015

Hydroelectric
Central Station

1800

277

0

Smaller Hydro

1 kW-10 MW

2,000 - 3000

Small Hydro--China

~100s of kW

420 - 630

Wind

800

67

0.01

Solar Thermal

200 MW

1625

126

0.001

Solar Photovoltaic

900 - 1800

70 - 140

0.002

Biomass
Advanced Biomass (BIG/STIG)

103 MW

35.6%

$1121

110

0.021

Biomass Gasifier

100 kW

505 - 1,665


w. Costs and efficiencies for most options from page 67 of Johansson, T.B., H. Kelly, A.K.N. Reddy, and R.H. Williams, "Renewable Fuels and Electricity for a Growing World: Defining and Achieving the Potential", Chapter 1 in Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity, edited by T.B. Johansson, H. Kelly, A.K.N. Reddy, and R.H. Williams, Island Press, Washington, D.C., USA. Note that these costs represent a blend of currently available technology and projections for technologies now in the commercialization phase. As a consequence, the cost figures shown here should be taken as representative estimates only. Costs for biomass gasifiers from Stassen, H.E., (1995), Small-Scale Biomass Gasifiers for Heat and Power: A Global Review, World Bank Technical Paper no. 296, Energy Series, The World Bank, Washington, D.C., USA. Costs for diesels are from Ramani, K.V., (1993), The Asian Development Bank's Approach to Rural Energy Development in the 1990's, Draft policy paper. Costs for hydro are from Shanker, A. and G.G. Krause, "Decentralized Small Scale Power Systems", Chapter 4-3 in Saunier, G. editor (1992), Rural Electrification Guidebook For Asia and the Pacific, Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand, page 254, and from Zhi Xiaozhang and Deng Bingli, Small "Hydro Power Development for Rural Electrification in China", Chapter 5-5, same volume. Return to Table

x. Estimates for the costs of nuclear generating facilities are from Page 18 of Wu Changlun et al, editors, China: Issues and Options in Greenhouse Gas Control, Alternative Energy Supply Options to Substitute for Carbon Intensive Fuels, Subreport Number 5. The World Bank, Industry and Energy Division, Washington, D.C., USA. December 1994. Estimates of fixed O&M costs are based on a range of different estimates provided. Variable O&M costs are for fuel only (quoted in the source at 440 Yuan/kW, 4.7 Yuan/$, and 6000 hours of operation per year. Return to Table

From Technological Alternatives to Reduce Acid Gas and Related Emissions from Energy-Sector Activities in Northeast Asia by David Von Hippel