How Much Might it Cost to Decarbonize the Power Sector? It Depends on the Metric

Cole, Wesley; Antonysamy, Adithya; Brown, Patrick; Sergi, Brian; Mai, Trieu; Denholm, Paul

doi:10.1016/j.energy.2023.127608

How Much Might it Cost to Decarbonize the Power Sector? It Depends on the Metric

Journal Article · 20 April 2023 · Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.127608· OSTI ID:1973214

; Antonysamy, Adithya; Brown, Patrick; ; ;

One of the most prominent questions about decarbonizing the power sector is how much it might cost to decarbonize. In this work we quantify the cost of decarbonization using five types of cost metrics: 1) the total system cost, 2) the bulk power electricity price, 3) the average retail rate, 4) household energy costs, and 5) carbon abatement costs. We show that the reported cost of decarbonization is highly dependent on the metric chosen and discuss how the choice of metric can aid in discussions about decarbonization costs. We also compare these costs to the emission and health benefits of decarbonization and find that the benefits can be many times greater than the costs.

Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Strategic Analysis Team

DOE Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1973214

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-6A40-81561; MainId:82334; UUID:0874d936-b90f-4aba-9650-9765f8fa6759; MainAdminID:69453

Journal Information:: Energy, Vol. 276

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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