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Search results for: “power electronics”

  • Generac: power generation products?

    Generac: power generation products?

    Generac is a US-specialist in residential- and commercial-scale power generation solutions, founded in 1959, headquartered in Wisconsin, with 8,800 employees and $7bn of market cap. What outlook amidst power grid bottlenecks? To answer this question, we have tabulated data on 250 Generac products.

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  • Power generation: asset lives?

    Power generation: asset lives?

    Power generation asset lives average c70-years for large hydro, 55-years for new nuclear, 45-years for coal, 33-years for gas, 20-25 years for wind/solar and 15-years for batteries. This flows through to LCOE models. However, each asset type follows a distribution of possible asset lives, as tabulated and contrasted in this data-file. Asset lives of power…

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  • Smart Wires: grid capacity breakthroughs?

    Smart Wires: grid capacity breakthroughs?

    This Smart Wires technology review finds that Static Synchronous Series Compensators (SmartValve) and dynamic line rating software (SUMO) can increase throughput along existing transmission lines by 20-100%+. The patents confer a visible moat around SmartValve and focus on improving electrical performance reducing deployment costs.

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  • Global PGM demand: breakdown by metal and use?

    Global PGM demand: breakdown by metal and use?

    Core global PGM demand ran at 565 tons in 2023, which remains c6% lower than the all-time peak demand of 600Tpa in 2019. We model a recovery to 700 Tpa of demand for platinum, palladium and rhodium in 2030, then a long run decline to 350Tpa if EVs ultimately reach 90% of vehicle sales by…

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  • Drone deployment: vertical take-off?

    Drone deployment: vertical take-off?

    Drones cost just $1k-100k each. They may use 95-99% less energy than traditional vehicles. Their ascent is being helped by battery technology and AI. Hence this 14-page report reviews recent progress from 40 leading drone companies. What stood out most was a re-shaping of the defense industry, plus helpful deflation across power grids, renewables, agriculture,…

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  • Levelized cost: ten things I hate about you?

    Levelized cost: ten things I hate about you?

    โ€˜Levelized costโ€™ analysis can be mis-used, as though one โ€˜energy source to rule them allโ€™ was on the cusp of pushing out all the other energy sources. Cost depends on context. Every power source usually ranges from 5-15c/kWh. A resilient, low-carbon grid is diversified. And there is hidden value.

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  • Lithium: global demand forecasts?

    Lithium: global demand forecasts?

    This data-file estimates global demand for lithium as part of the energy transition. The market has already trebled from 23kTpa in 2010 to 65kTpa in 2020, while we see the ascent continuing to 500kTpa in 2030 and almost 2MTpa in 2050. 90% is driven by transport. Global reserves suffice to cover the demand.

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  • Energy Transition Technologies?

    Energy Transition Technologies?

    This data-file “scores” the top technologies to transform the global energy industry and the world, as assessed by Thunder Said Energy. Each one is scored based on technical readiness, economic impact and the level of work we have conducted.

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  • Decarbonized power: how much wind and solar fit into the optimal grid?

    Decarbonized power: how much wind and solar fit into the optimal grid?

    What should future power grids look like? Our answer optimizes costs, stability and CO2. Renewables do not surpass 45-50%. By this point, over 70% of new wind and solar will fail to dispatch, while incentive prices will have trebled. Batteries help little. They raise power prices by a further 2-5x to accommodate just 3-15% more…

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  • US decarbonization: energy and CO2 emissions?

    US decarbonization: energy and CO2 emissions?

    The US consumes 25,000 TWH of primary energy per year, which equates to 13,000 TWH of useful energy, and emits 6GTpa of CO2. This model captures our best estimates for what a pragmatic and economical decarbonization of the US will look like, reaching net zero in 2050, with forecasts for wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, oil,…

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