WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 14
W E M O 202 5
O U T LO O K
FIGURE 6
LCOE including levelized 昀椀rming cost ($/MWh)78
Gas Peaking LCOE v18.0 ($149 - $251/MWh)
$250
• LCOE for nuclear power varies signi昀椀cantly between
existing and new plants, re昀氀ecting di昀昀erences in capital
costs, operational expenses, and regional factors. For existing
nuclear plants, LCOE is relatively low due to amortized capital
costs81: in the U.S., it averages $70–$80/MWh; in Europe,
$50–$90/MWh (depending on refurbishment needs); and in
China, $40–$60/MWh, driven by lower maintenance costs.
225
$164
150
125
100
$137
$116
75
50
25
0
ELCC3
Capacity Factor
Resource Penetration
$50
$66
$53
$84
$23
$66
$61
Solar
39%
20%
13%
$49
Wind
26%
37%
26%
MISO
$51
$122
$73
$66
$86
$71
$23
$144
$131
$128
$103
$86
$50
$142
$142
$127
$109
$96
$73
$44
$51
$65
$69
$41
Solar
7%
27%
43%
$72
$44
$77
$63
PV+Storage
41%
27%
43%
CAISO
LCOE
81Capital cost accounts for 80% of the LCOE, maintenance and fuel for the remaining 20%
82https://www.ft.com/content/ee89bce2-a3e9-48ed-82eb-85916eb24777
$59
Wind
12%
33%
17%
$48
$14
$14
$52
$99
$48
$57
$58
Gas Combined Cycle LCOE v18.0 ($48-$109/MWh)
$51
$118
$111
$42
$114
$42
$93
$97
$86
$91
$24
$42
$74
$77
$51
$70
$55
$80
$24
$42
$67
$44
$55
$43
Wind
20%
40%
61%
Solar
51%
21%
2%
Solar
38%
18%
2%
SPP
Subsidized (excl. Energy Community)
PV+Storage
33%
18%
2%
PJM
Wind
38%
30%
5%
Firming Cost
Wind
25%
34%
46%
Solar
38%
24%
34%
ERCOT
For new nuclear plants, LCOE is much higher due to
substantial upfront capital costs and longer construction
timelines: in the U.S., new plants range from $142–$222/
MWh (averaging $182/MWh); in Europe, $150 –$350
/MWh 82 (e.g., France and UK EPR projects); and in
China, $70–$100/MWh, benefiting from standardized
designs and lower construction costs. These figures
exclude additional grid system costs, which are
minimal for nuclear thanks to its dispatchable nature.
Compared to renewables, existing nuclear often
undercuts solar and wind when System LCOE are factored
in, but new nuclear struggles to compete without
subsidies or high enough carbon pricing.
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