How much does it cost to build a solar power plant?

The agency found that natural gas-fired utility construction costs were $820 per kilowatt in 2022, while solar power construction costs were $1,588 per kilowatt and wind power construction costs were $1,451 per kilowatt.

Are national gas plants more expensive than wind and solar?

On average, construction costs for national gas plants have been lower than for wind or solar from 2013 through 2022. The increase in wind and solar construction costs in 2022 reverses the trend of declining costs for those sources.

How much does it cost to build a wind turbine?

Wind The average construction cost for U.S. onshore wind turbines increased 1.6% in 2022 to $1,451/kW. Higher costs were driven by increases in construction costs for wind farms greater than 100 megawatts (MW) in nameplate capacity. The cost for wind farms between 100 MW and 200 MW of capacity increased by 10% to $1,614/kW.

Are wind and solar construction costs higher than gas-fired construction costs?

As seen below, wind and solar construction costs have been much higher than gas-fired construction costs for the entire timeline shown: 2013 through 2022. The gas-fired power costs are a combination of combined cycle, internal combustion engine, and turbine technology.

How much does solar cost per kilowatt (kW)?

Discussion of additional cost information and trends is available in our Short-Term Energy Outlook. Solar Average U.S. solar construction costs across all solar panel types increased 1.7% to $1,588 per kilowatt (kW) in 2022.

Will a net-zero energy infrastructure project cost more than expected?

By Laura Hurley Between now and 2050, the International Energy Agency projects that more than $100 trillion will be spent on building net-zero energy infrastructure globally. Yet every single one of these projects runs the risk of higher-than-expected construction costs or time delays.