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Construction cost data for electric generators installed in 2020

Release Date: August 23, 2022 Next Release Date: August 2023 2020 TablesXLS

Presented below are graphs and tables of the cost data for generators installed in 2020 based on data collected by the 2020 Annual Electric Generator Report, Form EIA-860. The cost data for certain generation technologies were omitted to avoid disclosure of individual company data.

EIA expects to publish construction cost data for generators installed in 2021 in July 2023.

Read EIA's Electric Power Data Guide.

Jump to group:

All generators by: major energy source prime mover Census region top five states in capacity additions

By selected sources and type:

Natural gas: technology combined-cycle by prime mover
Solar PV: Census region top five states in capacity additions PV panel type and tracking system total capacity added at plant
Wind: Census region plant size wind class
Previous years:
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Generators installed in 2020 by major energy source

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All plants by major energy source capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
wind 1,498
solar 1,655
natural gas 1,116
battery storage 758
hydro 1,415
biomass 2,886
petroleum liquids 795
Total capacity (MW) at new plants at existing plants
wind 14,588 194
solar 10,293 107
natural gas 4,711 745
battery storage 457 34
hydro 27 128
biomass 14 62
petroleum liquids 10 25
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
wind 82 4
solar 547 14
natural gas 20 11
battery storage 46 7
hydro 1 3
biomass 4 5
petroleum liquids 3 11
All plants by major energy source total cost (billion $)
wind 22.1
solar 17.2
natural gas 6.1
battery storage 0.4
hydro 0.2
biomass 0.3
petroleum liquids 0.0
Number of generators by major energy source at new plants at existing plants
wind 92 4
solar 566 14
natural gas 58 26
battery storage 48 8
hydro 3 3
biomass 4 8
petroleum liquids 6 16
Average new plants capacity or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
wind 178 48
solar 19 8
natural gas 236 68
battery storage 10 5
hydro 27 43
biomass 3 12
petroleum liquids 3 2

Generators installed in 2020 by prime mover

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Capacity-weighted average cost per kilowatt of installed namepate capacity ($/kW) capacity weighted-average cost ($/kW)
steam turbine 895
combustion turbine 636
combustion turbine (as part of combined cycle) 1,121
steam turbine (as part of combined cycle) 1,210
internal combustion engine 1,514
hydroelectric turbine 1,415
onshore wind turbine 1,498
photovoltaic 1,655
energy storage, battery 758
Total included capacity(MW) at new plants at existing plants
steam turbine 10 44
combustion turbine 241 134
combustion turbine (as part of combined cycle) 2,770 226
steam turbine (as part of combined cycle) 1,677 137
internal combustion engine 38 290
hydroelectric turbine 27 128
onshore wind turbine 14,588 194
photovoltaic 10,293 107
energy storage, battery 457 34
number of generators at new plants at existing plants
steam turbine 1 1
combustion turbine 4 2
combustion turbine (as part of combined cycle) 11 3
steam turbine (as part of combined cycle) 7 3
internal combustion engine 45 41
hydroelectric turbine 3 3
onshore wind turbine 92 4
photovoltaic 566 14
energy storage, battery 48 8
Average generator capacity at new or existing plants at new plants at existing plants
steam turbine 10 44
combustion turbine 60 67
combustion turbine (as part of combined cycle) 252 75
steam turbine (as part of combined cycle) 240 46
internal combustion engine 1 7
hydroelectric turbine 9 43
onshore wind turbine 159 48
photovoltaic 18 8
energy storage, battery 10 4
Total construction cost total cost (billion $)
steam turbine 0.0
combustion turbine 0.2
combustion turbine (as part of combined cycle) 3.4
steam turbine (as part of combined cycle) 2.2
internal combustion engine 0.5
hydroelectric turbine 0.2
onshore wind turbine 22.1
photovoltaic 17.2
energy storage, battery 0.4

Generators installed in 2020 by Census region

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Census regions capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
South 1,410
Midwest 1,565
West 1,503
Northeast 1,358
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
South 10,422 536
Midwest 8,773 272
West 7,921 371
Northeast 2,984 116
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
South 204 8
Midwest 221 20
West 143 14
Northeast 135 13
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
South 237 10
Midwest 236 24
West 156 26
Northeast 148 19
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
South 51 67
Midwest 40 14
West 55 27
Northeast 22 9
Census region total cost (billion $)
South 15.5
Midwest 14.2
West 12.5
Northeast 4.2

Generators installed in 2020 by top five states in capacity additions

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State capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
Texas 1,264
California 1,544
Florida 1,196
Iowa 1,731
New York 1,288
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
Texas 5,124 0
California 3,459 22
Florida 1,640 149
Iowa 1,446 69
New York 1,459 13
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
Texas 51 0
California 59 6
Florida 22 2
Iowa 11 6
New York 51 4
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
Texas 78 0
California 68 9
Florida 22 2
Iowa 13 6
New York 56 6
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
Texas 100 0
California 59 4
Florida 75 74
Iowa 131 11
New York 29 3
State total cost (billion $)
Texas 6.5
California 5.4
Florida 2.1
Iowa 2.6
New York 1.9

Natural gas generators installed in 2020 by technology

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Natural gas plants by type capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
combined cycle 1,155
combustion turbine 636
internal combustion engine 1,103
Total included capacity (MW) at new plants at existing plants
combined cycle 4,447 363
combustion turbine 241 134
internal combustion engine 24 247
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
combined cycle 5 2
combustion turbine 2 2
internal combustion engine 13 7
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
combined cycle 18 6
combustion turbine 4 2
internal combustion engine 36 18
Average new plants capacity or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
combined cycle 889 182
combustion turbine 120 67
internal combustion engine 2 35
Total construction cost total cost (billion $)
combined cycle 5.6
combustion turbine 0.2
internal combustion engine 0.3

Natural gas generators installed in 2020 at combined-cycle plants by prime mover

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Natural gas combined cycle plants by component capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
combustion turbine 1,121
steam turbine 1,210
Total capacity at new plants at existing plants
combustion turbine 2,770 226
steam turbine 1,677 137
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
combustion turbine 11 3
steam turbine 7 3
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
combustion turbine 252 75
steam turbine 240 46
Natural gas generators at combined-cycle plants by prime mover total cost (billion $)
combustion turbine 3.4
steam turbine 2.2

Solar PV generators installed in 2020 by Census region

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Census regions capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
South 1,494
West 1,788
Midwest 2,055
Northeast 2,576
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
South 6,544 61
West 2,687 36
Midwest 544 7
Northeast 518 3
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
South 158 2
West 107 4
Midwest 169 5
Northeast 113 3
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
South 163 2
West 112 4
Midwest 173 5
Northeast 118 3
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
South 41 30
West 25 9
Midwest 3 1
Northeast 5 1
Region total cost (billion $)
South 9.9
West 4.9
Midwest 1.1
Northeast 1.3

Solar PV generators installed in 2020 by top five states in capacity additions

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Census regions capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
Texas 1,264
California 1,810
Florida 1,252
Georgia 1,850
Virginia 1,707
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
Texas 2,473 0
California 1,660 2
Florida 1,640 0
Georgia 651 58
Virginia 655 0
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
Texas 16 0
California 45 2
Florida 22 0
Georgia 24 1
Virginia 14 0
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
Texas 17 0
California 48 2
Florida 22 0
Georgia 24 1
Virginia 18 0
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
Texas 155 0
California 37 1
Florida 75 0
Georgia 27 58
Virginia 47 0
Region total cost (billion $)
Texas 3.1
California 3.0
Florida 2.1
Georgia 1.3
Virginia 1.1

Solar PV generators installed in 2020 by PV panel type and tracking system

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Solar PV plants by tracking system capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
crystalline silicon,
fixed tilt		 1,957
crystalline silicon,
axis-based tracking		 1,587
thin-film CdTe,
fixed tilt		 1,684
thin-film CdTe,
axis-based tracking		 1,631
other 1,914
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
crystalline silicon, fixed tilt 1,226 5
crystalline silicon, axis-based tracking 6,333 7
thin-film CdTe, fixed tilt 300 0
thin-film CdTe, axis-based tracking 2,067 90
other 368 5
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
crystalline silicon, fixed tilt 210 5
crystalline silicon, axis-based tracking 255 5
thin-film CdTe, fixed tilt 16 0
thin-film CdTe, axis-based tracking 39 2
other 27 2
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
crystalline silicon, fixed tilt 221 5
crystalline silicon, axis-based tracking 262 5
thin-film CdTe, fixed tilt 16 0
thin-film CdTe, axis-based tracking 40 2
other 27 2
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
crystalline silicon, fixed tilt 6 1
crystalline silicon, axis-based tracking 25 1
thin-film CdTe, fixed tilt 19 0
thin-film CdTe, axis-based tracking 53 45
other 14 2
Solar PV plants by tracking system total cost (billion $)
crystalline silicon, fixed tilt 2.4
crystalline silicon, axis-based tracking 10.1
thin-film CdTe, fixed tilt 0.5
thin-film CdTe, axis-based tracking 3.5
other 0.7

Solar PV generators installed in 2020 by total added capacity at plant

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Plant size capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
1–5 MW 2,577
5–10 MW 2,390
10–100 MW 1,668
100–250 MW 1,399
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
1–5 MW 880 17
5–10 MW 282 0
10–100 MW 4,838 90
100–250 MW 4,294 0
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
1–5 MW 397 12
5–10 MW 33 0
10–100 MW 93 2
100–250 MW 24 0
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
1–5 MW 408 12
5–10 MW 34 0
10–100 MW 97 2
100–250 MW 27 0
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
1–5 MW 2 1
5–10 MW 9 0
10–100 MW 52 45
100–250 MW 179 0
Plant size total cost (billion $)
1–5 MW 2.3
5–10 MW 0.7
10–100 MW 8.2
100–250 MW 6.0

Wind generators installed in 2020 by Census region

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Census region capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
Midwest and Northeast 1,598
South 1,329
West 1,450
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
Midwest and Northeast 7,549 194
South 3,607 0
West 3,432 0
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
Midwest and Northeast 46 4
South 16 0
West 20 0
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
Midwest and Northeast 53 4
South 17 0
West 22 0
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
Midwest and Northeast 164 48
South 225 0
West 172 0
Census region total cost (billion $)
Midwest and Northeast 12.4
South 4.8
West 5.0

Wind generators installed in 2020 by plant size

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Plant size capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
1–25 MW 5,059
25–100 MW 2,260
100–200 MW 1,531
>200 MW 1,393
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
1–25 MW 69 4
25–100 MW 625 60
100–200 MW 4,856 130
>200 MW 9,038 0
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
1–25 MW 10 2
25–100 MW 10 1
100–200 MW 31 1
>200 MW 31 0
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
1–25 MW 14 2
25–100 MW 10 1
100–200 MW 32 1
>200 MW 36 0
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
1–25 MW 7 2
25–100 MW 63 60
100–200 MW 157 130
>200 MW 292 0
Plant size total cost (billion $)
1–25 MW 0.4
25–100 MW 1.5
100–200 MW 7.6
>200 MW 12.6

Wind generators installed in 2020 by wind class

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Class capacity-weighted average cost ($/kW)
Class 1 1,991
Class 2 1,443
Class 3 and 4 1,559
Total included capacity at new plants at existing plants
Class 1 392 2
Class 2 9,080 132
Class 3 and 4 5,116 60
Number of plants at new plants at existing plants
Class 1 2 1
Class 2 48 2
Class 3 and 4 32 1
Number of generators at new plants at existing plants
Class 1 2 1
Class 2 50 2
Class 3 and 4 40 1
Average new plant or additional capacity at existing plants at new plants at existing plants
Class 1 196 2
Class 2 189 66
Class 3 and 4 160 60
Plant size total cost (billion $)
Class 1 0.8
Class 2 13.3
Class 3 and 4 8.1

Notes:
  • Data includes facilities with a total generator nameplate capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) or more. Solar data does not include distributed generation capacity.
  • Government grants, tax benefits, or other incentives are excluded from these costs.
  • Solar photovoltaic (PV) data are based on reported alternating current (AC) capacity and may differ from other cost and capacity estimates that use direct current (DC) ratings of PV panels.
  • Petroleum liquids includes distillate fuel oil, jet fuel, kerosene, residual fuel oil, and waste oil.
  • Biomass includes both liquid and gaseous biomass fuels.
  • Some generation technologies were excluded from this analysis to avoid disclosure of individual company data.
  • Average construction cost is based on the nameplate capacity weighted average cost per kilowatt of installed nameplate capacity.
  • Total capacity is the sum of the nameplate capacity of generators included in each group.
  • Average new capacity is based on the nameplate capacity of new plants or new additions of nameplate capacity to existing plants. New plants did not previously have operable units and are typically recently constructed. Existing plants have at least one previously operable generator and are not newly constructed.
  • Totals may not equal sum of components due to independent rounding.

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-860, Annual Electric Generator Report