This data-file provides an overview of energy economics: 150 different economic models constructed by Thunder Said Energy, in order to help you put numbers in context. This helps to compare marginal costs, capex costs, opex costs and other key parameters of technologies and materials that matter in the energy transition.
Specifically, the model provides summary economic ratios from our different economic models across conventional power, renewables, conventional fuels, lower-carbon fuels, manufacturing processes, infrastructure, transportation and nature-based solutions.
For example, EBIT margins range from 3-70%, cash margins range from 4-85% and net margins range from 2-50%, hence you can use the data-file to ballpark what constitutes a “good” margin, sub-sector by sub-sector.
Likewise capital intensity ranges from $300-9,000kWe, $5-7,500/Tpa and $4-125M/kboed. So again, if you are trying to ballpark a cost estimate you can compare it with the estimated costs of other processes.
Renewables stand out. Despite high capital intensity (34% of revenues, 2x the average), once constructed, they also have the highest cash margins (76%, also 2x the average).
Low-carbon fuels and manufacturing/materials are similar. Both tend to have c20% average EBIT margins, after deducting 70-75% opex and c5-10% capex shares. This makes sense, as low-carbon fuels are effectively “manufactured” energy products.
The most exciting opportunities can also be picked out. They are clustered in the top-left of the chart, with high EBIT margins, low capital intensity and low costs once they are up-and-running.
Full data are available in the data-file below. To read the overview of energy economics send to our distribution list, please see our article here. All of the underlying economic models that feed into this data-file are available here.