Introduction and general considerations
Technology assumption dataset list costs, efficiencies, emissions and lifetimes of energy conversion, storage and transmission technologies. Costs include investment costs, fuel costs, emission costs and variable and fixed operational and maintenance (VOM and FOM) costs.
Typically they provide an analysis of historical values and project future values (e.g. for 2030, 2050) with appropriate uncertainty ranges. Projections must be treated with caution given that the costs of some technologies (solar, offshore wind and batteries) are changing fast.
The databases have very different scope, with some covering only renewable technologies, while others include all generation, heating and storage technologies.
Technology assumption datasets by origin
Danish Energy Agency (DEA) and Energinet.dk
https://ens.dk/service/fremskrivninger-analyser-modeller/teknologikataloger/teknologikatalog-produktion-af-el
Last updated 2018. Includes generation, heating and storage technologies. Most information is also in English. Projections for 2020, 2030 and 2050.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), US
http://www.nrel.gov/analysis/tech_cost_data.html
"Recent cost estimates for distributed generation (DG) renewable energy technologies are available across capital costs, operations and maintenance (O&M) costs, and levelized cost of energy (LCOE). Use the tabs below to navigate the charts. The LCOE tab provides a simple calculator for both utility-scale and DG technologies that compares the combination of capital costs, O&M, performance, and fuel costs. If you are seeking utility-scale technology cost and performance estimates, please visit the Transparent Cost Database website for NREL's information regarding vehicles, biofuels, and electricity generation."
IEA-ETSAP
https://iea-etsap.org/index.php/energy-technology-data
Updated over last 10 years. Covers supply (electricity, storage, heating, transmission) and demand technologies.
IRENA
http://www.irena.org/costs
EnergyPLAN database from Aalborg University, Denmark
https://www.energyplan.eu/useful_resources/costdatabase/
Requires registration. Last updated October 2018. Includes generation, heating, storage and transmission technologies.
German Renewable Energy Law (EEG) experience report (Erfahrungsbericht)
https://www.erneuerbare-energien.de/EE/Redaktion/DE/Downloads/bmwi_de/bericht-eeg-7-wind-auf-see.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=6
DIW Current and Prospective Costs of Electricity Generation until 2050
https://www.diw.de/sixcms/detail.php?id=diw_01.c.424588.de
Last updated 2013. Focuses on electricity generation. Projections up to 2050.
