In the U.S., hydropower is produced for an average of 0.85 cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh). This is about 50% the cost of nuclear, 40% the cost of fossil fuel, and 25% the cost of using natural gas.

Is hydropower cheap or expensive?

At US$0.05/kWh, hydroelectricity remains the lowest-cost source of electricity worldwide, according to a recent report by the International Renewable Energy Agency, entitled Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2017.

How expensive is a hydroelectric dam?

A large hydropower dam on average costs 1800 million in 2010 USD with an average installed capacity of 630 MW. One MW installed capacity on average costs 2.8 million in 2010 USD.