Cost of energy
Cost of energy
US energy spending
US energy spending
Benefits of Solar Traps
Benefits of Solar Traps
Solar among most expensive, least utilized energy sources
Projected electric power production cost for new plants in 2018
Hover over categories for more details
cost per megawatt hour (range based on location)
500400
300
200
100
Natural gas
$62.50 to $149.80 per megawatt hour
28.4%
23.5 quadrillion BTUs
Coal
$89.50 to $152.70 per megawatt hour
30.1%
22.2 quadrillion BTUs
Nuclear
$104.40 to $115.30 per megawatt hour
11%
8.3 quadrillion BTUs
Hydro
$58.40 to $149.20 per megawatt hour
4.1%
3.2 quadrillion BTUs
Wind
$73.50 to $294.70 per megawatt hour
1.5%
1.2 quadrillion BTUs
Current solar technology
photovoltaic
thermal
$190.20 to $417.60 per megawatt hour
$112.50 to $224.40 per megawatt hour
photovoltaic: 0.2%
0.2 quadrillion BTUs
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Agency's "Electric Power Annual, 2012" and "Annual Energy Outlook 2013 Early Release Overview"
U.S. energy spending approached 1980s levels before recession
U.S. energy spending as a share of GDP
percent of U.S. gross domestic product
1110
9
8
7
6
5
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010