§ Lord Mackie of Benshieasked Her Majesty's Government:
How the cost of a unit of electricity produced by wind power compares with a unit produced by a nuclear power station. [HL1373]
§ Lord Sainsbury of TurvilleThe costs of generating electricity are a commercial matter for generators. Costs can be estimated on a variety of bases and will vary from plant to plant. For example, figures can include all cost items, including depreciation and return on capital, or can refer only to the additional costs associated with continued operation.
Estimates of generation costs from different types of plant are contained in the PIU Energy Review and a report by an inter-departmental analysts group, both of which were published in February 2002.
12WAThe PIU estimated the costs of new nuclear build and onshore and offshore wind generation as follows.
Estimated generation cost (p/kWh) Nuclear 2.5–4 Onshore wind 1.5–2.5 Offshore wind 2–3 Note: Estimates for onshore and offshore wind are for developments in 2020 and exclude additional costs occurring as a result of their intermittent nature.