What key financial parameter needs to be input to the LCOE calculation?

A key financial parameter that needs to be input into the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) calculation is the discount rate (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC). The discount rate represents the cost of capital used to finance the power plant project and reflects the time value of money. It is used to discount future costs and revenues back to their present value. A higher discount rate will increase the LCOE, making the project less economically attractive. The LCOE calculation also requires inputs such as capital costs, operating costs, fuel costs (if applicable), decommissioning costs, annual electricity generation, and the plant's lifespan. However, the discount rate is a crucial factor that significantly impacts the LCOE and reflects the financial risk associated with the project. Different power generation technologies have different levels of risk which affects the LCOE calculations.