The Economics of Power Plants: Levelized Cost, Risk, and Investment Decisions in the Energy Transition - Softcover

Thatch, Oliver J.

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798193083443

Publisher: Independently published, 2026

Synopsis

Reactive Publishing

Power plants sit at the center of the energy transition. Their economics determine which technologies get built, how capital is allocated, and how risk is priced across decades of operation.

The Economics of Power Plants provides a clear, structured examination of the financial and decision frameworks that govern power generation investments. It focuses on the practical application of levelized cost of energy (LCOE), the treatment of technical and market risk, and the investment logic that shapes project selection in a rapidly changing energy system.

The book covers:

• Core components of levelized cost calculation and their sensitivity to assumptions
• How technology choice, capacity factors, fuel price volatility, and carbon policy affect project economics
• Risk identification, quantification, and allocation across construction, operations, and revenue streams
• Investment decision frameworks used by utilities, independent power producers, and infrastructure investors
• The interaction between policy, market design, and long-term capital allocation in the energy transition

Written for energy professionals, analysts, investors, and advanced students, this volume prioritizes analytical clarity over promotional framing. It equips readers with the tools to evaluate power plant projects on consistent economic grounds and to understand the trade-offs that drive real-world investment decisions.

Oliver J. Thatch brings a focused treatment of the quantitative and strategic questions that determine which power generation assets move from concept to construction, and which do not.

Edition details

• Publisher: Independently published
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798193083443
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 379
• Editor: Schwartz Alice