the research consultancy for energy technologies

Search results for: “power factor”

  • Fans and blowers: costs and energy consumption?

    Fans and blowers: costs and energy consumption?

    Fans and blowers comprise a $7bn pa market, moving low-pressure gases through industrial and commercial facilities. Typical costs might run at $0.025/ton of air flow to earn a return on $200/kW equipment costs and 0.3kWh/ton of energy consumption. 3,000 tons of air flow may be required per ton of CO2 in a direct air capture…

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  • Boltzmann energy overview?

    Boltzmann energy overview?

    The Boltzmann constant, denoted as kB, or 1.381 x 10^-23 J/K, is the most important number in thermodynamics. It denotes the rate at which a single particle will gain thermal energy (in Joules) as its absolute temperature rises (in Kelvin). It underpins the Boltzmann distribution and the Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions, which matter in modelling gases, energy…

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  • Hot potassium carbonate CCS: energy economics?

    Hot potassium carbonate CCS: energy economics?

    Hot potassium carbonate is a post-combustion CCS technology that bypasses the degradation issues of amines, and can help to decarbonize power, BECCS and cement plants. We think costs are around $100/ton and energy penalties are 30-50%. Potassium carbonate CCS can be stress-tested in this data-file, across 50 inputs.

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  • Storage tank costs: storing oil, energy, water and chemicals?

    Storage tank costs: storing oil, energy, water and chemicals?

    Storage tank costs are tabulated in this data-file, averaging $100-300/m3 for storage systems of 10-10,000 m3 capacity. Costs are 2-10x higher for corrosive chemicals, cryogenic storage, or very large/small storage facilities. Some rules of thumb are outlined below with underlying data available in the Excel.

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  • Redox flow batteries: costs and capex?

    Redox flow batteries: costs and capex?

    Redox flow battery costs are built up in this data-file, especially for Vanadium redox flow. In our base case, a 6-hour battery that charges and discharges daily needs a storage spread of 20c/kWh to earn a 10% IRR on $3,000/kW of up-front capex. Longer-duration redox flow batteries start to out-compete lithium ion batteries for grid-scale…

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  • Density of gases: by pressure and temperature?

    Density of gases: by pressure and temperature?

    The density of gases matters in turbines, compressors, for energy transport and energy storage. Hence this data-file models the density of gases from first principles, using the Ideal Gas Equations and the Clausius-Clapeyron Equation. High energy density is shown for methane, less so for hydrogen and ammonia. CO2, nitrogen, argon and water are also captured.

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  • Thermal energy storage: leading companies?

    Thermal energy storage: leading companies?

    This data-file is a screen of thermal energy storage companies, developing systems that can absorb excess renewable electricity, heat up a storage medium, and then re-release the heat later, for example as high-grade steam or electricity. The space is fast-evolving and competitive, with 17 leading companies progressing different solutions.

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  • Thermal energy storage: cost model?

    Thermal energy storage: cost model?

    This data-file captures the costs of thermal energy storage, buying renewable electricity, heating up a storage media, then releasing the heat for industrial, commercial or residential use. Our base case requires 13.5 c/kWh-th for a 10% IRR, however 5-10 c/kWh-th heat could be achieved with lower capex costs.

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  • Solar and wind: what decarbonization costs?

    Solar and wind: what decarbonization costs?

    The costs of decarbonizing by ramping up solar and wind are highly dependent on context. But our best estimate is that solar and wind can reach 40% of the global grid for a $60/ton average CO2 abatement cost. This is a relatively low cost. Yet it still raises retail electricity prices from 10c/kWh to 12c/kWh.…

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  • New energies: filter feeder?

    New energies: filter feeder?

    The $1bn pa harmonic filter market likely expands by 10x in the energy transition, as almost all new energies and digital technologies inject harmonic distortion to the grid. This 17-page note argues for premiumization in power electronics, including around solar, and screens for who benefits?

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