Levelized Cost of Energy Comparison by Technology (2011 USD/MWh) #1402768 (License: Personal Use)

The chart displays the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for eleven power generation sources-including onshore/offshore wind, solar PV, solar thermal, coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and DDMotion ROR turbine-measured in 2011 USD per megawatt-hour. Each bar is segmented into four cost components: capital cost (purple), fixed O&M (orange), variable O&M/fuel (gray), and transmission (red). Solar thermal and offshore wind show the highest total costs, while natural gas and biomass have lower overall LCOE but higher fuel-related expenses.

Used in energy policy reports, utility planning dashboards, and sustainability education to compare economic viability of generation technologies; supports decision-making for investors, regulators, and engineers evaluating long-term project economics.