The report summarises projected capital costs of fifteen alternative electricity generation technologies in Australia for the period 2015 to 2050 in $/kW, based on cost reductions due to learning from global deployment. Two alternative scenarios are considered, a 550ppm target carbon emissions and a more stringent 450ppm target. The report explores cost trajectories for thermal technologies, such as coal, gas, solar, nuclear and biomass, in addition to non-thermal technologies such as PV and wind. Some of the fossil thermal technologies include carbon capture and storage or integrated gasification combined cycle variants. The report also includes a review of storage technologies and illustrative case studies of technology uptake and use across the Australian energy sector.

Current technology cost estimates were produced by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), while future cost projections were developed by CSIRO using the Global and Local Learning Model (GALLM). Note that the cost projection methodology is described in an associated report (see in-text reference).

Note disclaimers and copyright information in the front matter of the report.