Energy and Climate Change written question – answered on 30th March 2010.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether his Department has undertaken research into the comparative effectiveness of wind turbines and fossil fuel generation in producing electricity; and if he will make a statement.
The usual approach of assessing the effectiveness of different electricity generation technologies is to use the levelised cost of generating one megawatt hour (MWh) of electricity.
The analysis underpinning Renewable Energy Strategy, published in July 2009, used assumptions on the generating costs and wider impacts of wind generation. Full details of which are set out in Element (2009) and Redpoint/Trilemma (2009), which are available on the DECC website.
Table 1: Levelised cost estimates for wind generation plant | |
Technology | Levelised cost (£/MWh) |
Wind generation plant | |
Onshore wind | 74-103 |
Offshore wind | 112-131 |
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) have published estimated levelised costs (£/MWh, in 2008 prices) associated with 1 MWh of electricity generated, for their December 2008 report:
http://www.theccc.org.uk/pdf/TSO-ClimateChange.pdf
Their analysis for fossil fuel plant is set out in table 2 and include construction, operation and maintenance costs and the cost of carbon allowances (EU ETS).
Table 2: Levelised cost estimates for fossil fuel generation plant | |
Technology | Levelised cost (£/MWh) |
Coal-fired plant | |
Coal (pulverised fuel)-central fuel | 54 |
Gas-fired plant | |
CCGT-central fuel | 53 |
It should be noted that the estimates of levelised costs for different types of electricity generation are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, and other drivers. In reality, there are large uncertainties and ranges around these figures.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.