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Is electricity generation using renewable sources inherently cheaper than coal, hydro and nuclear?

• RichardHeart 10y ago
  It depends on where you live. Lots of wind? Lots of sun hours? Lots of subsidies?
• zaroth 10y ago
  No, see LCOE. (which can be calculated with or without accounting for externalities) Not surprisingly all current technology is relatively competitive with the others. If it wasn't the case, we would have a clear winner and there would be nothing interesting to discuss! https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/08/f25/LCOE.pdf https://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2015/08/f25/LCOE.pdf
  • TheSpiceIsLife 10y ago
    What does this mean for the folk who loudly proclaim "[solar/wind] now cheaper than coal"?
    • nradov 10y ago
      Solar and wind power can be cheaper than coal (by spot price) in certain limited areas at certain times of the day. The problem is that solar and wind are incapable of providing reliable base load capacity. Once you add energy storage (batteries, molten salt, pumped hydroelectric, etc) to provide power when it's dark with no wind blowing the costs go way up.
• prostoalex 10y ago
  Not inherently, but renewables generally have high cap-ex but low op-ex. Therefore highly depends on your entry price (this year's solar panels are cheaper than last year's). Seems like solar is at 3c/kWh (production cost before transportation) in certain regions now http://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-prices-plunge-to-new-lows-as-dubai-auction-nets-under-3ckwh-84894/ http://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-prices-plunge-to-new-lows-a...