Wind power cost and photovoltaic power generation cost

In 2023, the global weighted average levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) from newly commissioned utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV), onshore wind, offshore wind and hydropower fell. Between 2022 and 2023, utility-scale solar PV projects showed the most significant decrease (by 12%).

The global weighted average levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) of new onshore wind projects added in 2021 fell by 15%, year‑on‑year, to USD 0.033/kWh, while that of new utility-scale solar PV fell by 13% year-on-year to USD 0.048/kWh and that of offshore wind declined 13% to USD 0.075/kWh.

In 2022, the global weighted average levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) from newly commissioned utility-scale solar photovoltaics (PV), onshore wind, concentrating solar power (CSP), bioenergy and geothermal energy all fell, despite rising materials and equipment costs.

wind in AEO2022 was $1,411 per kilowatt (kW), and for solar PV with tracking, it was $1,323/kW, which represents the cost of building a plant excluding regional factors. Region-specific factors contributing to the substantial regional variation in cost include differences in typical project size across regions, accessibility of resources, and.

It presents the plant-level costs of generating electricity for both baseload electricity generated from fossil fuel and nuclear power stations, and a range of renewable generation – including variable sources such as wind and solar.

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6 FAQs about [Wind power cost and photovoltaic power generation cost]

How much will new solar and wind power cost in 2021?

The lifetime cost per kWh of new solar and wind capacity added in Europe in 2021 will average at least four to six times less than the marginal generating costs of fossil fuels in 2022. Globally, new renewable capacity added in 2021 could reduce electricity generation costs in 2022 by at least USD 55 billion.

What is the average lifetime of a PV & wind power plant?

We adopted a fixed ratio of O&M costs to investment costs for the projected PV and wind power plants 50, 51. We adopted 25 years (ref. 30) as the average lifetime of PV or wind power plants. We considered the costs of electricity transmission by UHV when increasing the installed capacity of a power plant.

Will solar PV & wind be more expensive in 2024?

Consequently, the average LCOE for utility-scale PV and wind could be 10-15% higher in 2024 than it was in 2020. Although their costs continue to exceed pre Covid-19 levels, solar PV and onshore wind remain the cheapest option for new electricity generation in most countries.

How are PV and wind power plants estimated?

The installed capacity (a) and costs (b) of PV and wind power plants built during 2020–2060 are estimated in our model by optimizing the construction time of individual power plants at a temporal interval of 5 years (bars) or 10 years (stars).

How will solar PV & wind impact global electricity generation?

The share of solar PV and wind in global electricity generation is forecast to double to 25% in 2028 in our main case. This rapid expansion in the next five years will have implications for power systems worldwide.

Will the cost of capital increase in solar PV & wind markets?

In real terms (i.e. excluding the impact of inflation), the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is expected to increase in most large solar PV and wind markets, excluding China. The higher cost of capital could offset most of the cost decreases resulting from lower commodity prices and further technology innovation in the next two years.

Wind power cost and photovoltaic power generation cost