Gas-Fired Electricity Two to Three Times Costlier Than Renewables in Germany

For a 500 MW gas-fired power plant operating 1,000 hours at full capacity—a realistic assumption for backup operations—the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) reaches approximately €0.192/kWh, of which €0.068/kWh represents the natural gas component, the most volatile. Integrating a carbon price of €100/tonne through the emissions market, the cost rises to €0.23/kWh. Externalized costs, not borne by the plant operator, push this total between €0.35 and €0.67/kWh depending on the scenario.