Electricity Supplied

To calculate the number of homes powered by one MW of capacity, I used the following formula:

E = 730fP ----- (1)

where E is electricity provided (MWh) in a 730-hour month, f fraction of rated power actually delivered, and P is rated power (MW). Assuming the average home in Ohio uses 1 MWh = 1,000 kWh per month, Eq. (1) becomes:

H = 730fP ----- (2)

where H is the number of homes supplied.

I used the data of www.nrel.gov/analysis/costs.html
for my estimates.


----------------------------------------------- Construction-- Construction
Power Source ------------------ f --- H/P---- Cost, $/kW --- Cost, $/Home

Coal ----------------------------- 0.86 - 630 -------- 2800 -- 4450
Geothermal --------------------- 0.84 - 615 -------- 3200 -- 5200
Natural Gas (Combined Cycle) -- 0.80 - 585 -------- 3100 -- 5300
Wind ---------------------------- 0.39 - 285 -------- 1700 -- 5965
Biomass ------------------------- 0.69 - 505 -------- 3200 -- 6335
Hydro --------------------------- 0.45 - 330 -------- 2300 -- 6970
Nuclear ------------------------- 0.90 - 655 -------- 4900 -- 7480
Solar Thermal ------------------- 0.32 - 235 -------- 4600 -- 19,570
Solar PV ------------------------- 0.20 - 145 -------- 5600 -- 38,620


where f = capacity factor
H/P = Homes per MW