Distributed Generation Energy Technology Capital Costs
The following charts indicate recent capital cost estimates for distributed generation (DG) renewable energy technologies. The estimates are shown in dollars per installed kilowatt of generating capacity or thermal energy capacity for thermal technologies.
The charts provide a compilation of available national-level cost data from a variety of sources. Costs in your specific location will vary.
The red horizontal lines represent the first standard deviation of the mean.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) sponsored the distributed generation data used within these charts.
If you are seeking utility-scale technology capital cost estimates, please visit the Transparent Cost Database website for NREL's information regarding vehicles, biofuels, and electricity generation.
| Capital Cost (February 2016 Update) | Operations & Maintenance (February 2016 Update) | Utility-Scale Capacity Factors | Useful Life | Land Use by System Technology | LCOE Calculator |
| Technology Type | Mean Installed Cost | Installed Cost Std. Dev. (+/-) |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Water Heat, flat plate and evacuated tube ($/ft2) | $162 | $61 |
| Solar Water Heat, plastic collector ($/ft2) | $59 | $15 |
| Solar Vent Preheat ($/ft2) | $31 | $14 |
| Biomass Wood Heat ($/kW) | $575 | $252 |
| Ground Source Heat Pump ($/ton) | $7,765 | $4,632 |
Data and Charts for Download:
- Distributed Generation Renewable Energy Estimate of Costs (February 2016)
- Distributed Generation Renewable Energy Estimate of Costs (August 2013)