Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2014

The competitiveness of renewable power generation technologies continued improving in 2013 and 2014, reaching historic levels. Biomass for power, hydropower, geothermal and onshore wind can all provide electricity competitively against fossil fuel-fired power generation. Solar photovoltaic (PV) power has also become increasingly competitive, with its levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) at utility scale falling by half in four years.

This publication aims to reduce uncertainty about the true costs of renewable power generation technologies, so that governments can be more ambitious and efficient in their policy support for renewables. As this comprehensive report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) underlines, perceptions that such technologies are expensive or uncompetitive are outdated, at best.

Full report

Executive Summary

The report follows from IRENA’s first major costing study, Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2012.

For more of IRENA's ongoing renewable energy cost analysis, click here.

Download individual chapters here:

• Executive Summary
• Global Renewable Power Market Trends
• Wind Power
• Solar Photovoltaics
• Concentrating Solar Power
• Hydropower
• Biomass for Power Generation
• Geothermal Power Generation
• Cost Reductions to 2025
• Annex Methodology
• References