Coal-fired power plant capital cost estimates. Final report

Capital cost estimates have been prepared for 100-MW coal-fired power plants in four regions of the United States: Northeast, Southeast, Great Lakes, and Western. The plants were designed to burn regionally representative coals. For the Great Lakes location, cost estimates were made for both Illinois and Wyoming coals. For the Western location, two Wyoming coal-fired plants were studied, one designed to EPA new-source performance standards and the other designed to New Mexico emission standards. The effect of building the plant on a remote site was also studied for the Western location. Capital costs for twin 500-MW units, expressed in 1976 dollars, ranged from 683 $/kW for a Southeastern plant burning Kentucky coal to 1,001 $/kW for a remote Western plant conforming to New Mexico standards. The cost of a single 1,000-MW unit is not significantly lower. The cost estimates were based on information from the contractor's current construction projects.