to 29% in 2030. Gas-fired electricity generation will increase everywhere in the OECD (Figure 3.9). In developing countries, the share of gas is expected to rise from 17% in 2003 to 26% by 2030. Most of the increase will occur in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The transition economies will also see a substantial increase in gas-fired electricity generation. INFRASTRUCTURE TO 2030: TELECOM, LAND TRANSPORT, WATER AND ELECTRICITY - ISBN 92-64-02398-4 - © OECD 2006 OUTLOOK FOR GLOBAL INVESTMENT IN ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE Figure 3.9. Share of natural gas in electricity generation by region in the Reference Scenario Middle Transition Africa Latin Developing economies America Europe Pacific North America CCGT plants will account for most of the increased use of gas for power. CCGTs are expected to remain the preferred option for new power generation because of their economic and environmental advantages. They have lower capital costs than any other type of base-load plant half as much as a coal plant, and a quarter as much as a nuclear plant. Construction time for a CCGT plant is two to three years; it takes at least twice as long to build a coal-fired or nuclear plant. CCGT plants have the lowest carbon dioxide emissions of all fossil fuel-based technologies, because of the low carbon content of natural gas and the high efficiency of the plants themselves. This advantage reduces investment risk for gas-fired power plants in countries that plan to limit CO2 emissions. Natural gas is free of sulphur dioxide, while CCGT technology reduces emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulates. Fuel cells using hydrogen from reformed natural gas are expected to emerge as a new source of power generation after 2020, though their share in total generation will still be very small by 2030. Electricity supply capacity and investment needs New power plants with combined capacity of 4800 GW are expected to be built worldwide over the period 2003-30; half of them will be in developing countries (Table 3.5). OECD countries w