Search results for: “heat pumps”

Waste-to-energy: levelized costs of electricity?

A typical waste-to-energy plant, without subsidies, must charge 16c/kWh to generate a 10% IRR off of c$7,000/kW in capex costs, plus another 14c/kwh-equivalent of revenues from avoided landfilling and metals recovery. This economic model covers waste-to-energy levelized costs of electricity.
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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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March 27, 2025

Power plant cooling: adapting for water scarcity?

Water is needed to condense steam, downstream of the steam turbines, in nuclear, coal and CCGT power plants. But thermal power demands and fresh water scarcity are both structurally rising. Hence this 16-page report explores how the energy industry might adapt, trends in power plant cooling, and who benefits.
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May 8, 2025

Yttria-stabilized zirconia: sticker shock?

Global yttrium output is just 10-15kTpa, worth $100M pa, of which c90% is controlled by China. Yet a supply disruption for this critical metal could have ripple effects comparable to an oil shock: de-railing developed world load growth, aircraft manufacturing and the rise of AI? This 15-page report tells the story of yttria-stabilized zirconia, explores…
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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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