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Search results for: “gas”

  • Photons vs electrons: laser quest?

    Photons vs electrons: laser quest?

    Some commentators say the 21st century will be the โ€˜age of the electronโ€™. But in computing/communications, the photon has long been displacing the electron. This 17-page note gives an overview. It matters as moving data is 50-90% of data center energy use. We contrast fiber vs copper; and explore AI power, optical computing, and a…

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  • eHighway economics: costs of electrifying heavy trucks?

    eHighway economics: costs of electrifying heavy trucks?

    eHighways present an opportunity to electrify heavy trucking, by conveying medium voltage power via overhead steel catenary lines, through a pantograph, to an electric or hybrid-electric truck. This data-file captures the economics of eHighways, covering capex costs, returns and sensitivities, both for road operators and truck operators. The CO2 intensity of trucking can be reduced…

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  • US nuclear generation by company?

    US nuclear generation by company?

    US nuclear generation of 800 TWH pa has come from 94 reactors, at 65 nuclear plants, owned by c50 companies, with 102 GW of current capacity. This data-file breaks down the industry by plant and by owner/operator, and assesses the restart potential of shuttered nuclear plants.

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  • Global trade: imports and exports, by product, by region?

    Global trade: imports and exports, by product, by region?

    Global trade is set to hit a new peak of $33trn in 2024 (30% of global GDP), of which 70-80% is for goods and 20-30% is for services. This data-file disaggregates global trade by product by region, across c20 categories of energy, materials and capital goods, which we follow in our research, and which are…

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  • Poly Vinyl Chloride: the economics?

    Poly Vinyl Chloride: the economics?

    This data-file estimates the cost of PVC production and the cost of VCM production, from first principles, based on capex, input materials, heat, electricity, labor and other opex. As a rule of thumb, 10% IRRs require c$900/ton PVC and c$750/ton VCM, and PVC will embed around 2 tons of CO2 per ton of PVC. Numbers…

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  • Exail: inertial navigation technology?

    Exail: inertial navigation technology?

    Exail Technologies is listed in Paris and focuses on navigational and maritime robotics. It has a range of maritime drones, with applications from mine-sweeping to assisting with offshore wind, offshore oil and gas and civil infrastructure projects in coastal waters. A key to these drones is incorporating Exail’s Inertial Navigation Systems. We have reviewed the…

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  • Investment casting: the economics?

    Investment casting: the economics?

    Investment casting is fast and scalable, especially when producing hundreds-thousands of metal parts. $5/kg unlocks a 10% IRR on a 70% utilized metal-casting plant with $2,000/Tpa of capex, producing a typical 10kg aluminium product. This data-file captures the costs of investment-cast products, which can be stress-tested. 115MTpa of metals are cast every year, of which…

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  • Itron: smart energy network technology?

    Itron: smart energy network technology?

    Itron is a US-leader in smart energy meters and smart energy networks. Once you have these smart meters widely deployed across the electricity network, you can start to do really interesting things. This data-file gathers concrete examples of Itron’s smart energy network technology, based on reviewing 15 patents.

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  • Rare Earth mining and refining: the economics?

    Rare Earth mining and refining: the economics?

    The costs of Rare Earth mining and refining are captured in this model, requiring a $70/kg blended product price, to generate a 20% IRR on $150,000/Tpa of capex. Primary energy intensity exceeds 100 MWH/ton and CO2 intensity exceeds 20 tons/ton. Economics are particularly sensitive to ore grade, recovery rates and chemical costs.

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  • Oil crops: the economics?

    Oil crops: the economics?

    The costs of oil crops, a crucial input for bio-diesel and SAF, will usually range from $900-1,200/ton, in order to generate acceptable 6-15% IRRs for producers. This translates into $3-4/gallon in feedstock costs. These oil crops also likely embed over 2 kg/gallon of CO2 intensity. The economics of oil crops can be stress-tested in this…

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