Here is document from 2005 that seems authoritative:
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=35854
It is summarized here, in slides made by the same author, who is at
Merrill Lynch:
http://www.des.state.nh.us/coastal/documents/EnergyCostComparisons.pdf
I think the numbers for the capital cost of wind and nuclear power
are much too low, but otherwise it seems to be in the ballpark.
My summary of data from the two documents:
Solar PV:
Capital cost: $6 - $10 / W; $6,000 - $10,000 / kW
Capacity factor: 15% - 20%
Fuel cost: $0
Health costs: $0
Total cost including maintenance etc.: 17.12 cents per kWh
Coal:
Capital cost: $1,200 / kW
Capacity factor: 95%
Fuel cost: 2.14 cents per kWh
Health costs: ~5.36 cents per kWh
Total cost including maintenance etc.: 10.29 cents per kWh
Gas:
Capital cost: $700 / kW
Capacity factor: 95%
Fuel cost: 4.90 cents per kWh
Health costs: ~2 cents per kWh
Total cost including maintenance etc.: 8.09 cents per kWh
Nuclear:
Capital cost: $1,500 / kW
Capacity factor: 95%
Fuel cost: 0.76 cents per kWh
Health costs: ~0 cents per kWh but who knows . . .
Total cost including maintenance etc.: ~3.31 cents per kWh according
to the industry
Wind:
Capital cost: $1,500 / kW
Capacity factor: 25% - 35%
Fuel cost: $0
Health costs: $0
Total cost including maintenance etc.: 6 - 7 cents per kWh in New England.
Wind industry sources say wind costs 3.5 to 4 cents per kWh,
presumably in ideal locations such as North Dakota. New England is
not ideal. See, for example, the GE Energy web site:
http://www.gepower.com/businesses/ge_wind_energy/en/about_wind_ener.htm
- Jed
