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Search results for: “renewables”

  • Power Trains? Electric, diesel or hydrogen

    Power Trains? Electric, diesel or hydrogen

    This data-file compares diesel trains, electric trains and hydrogen trains, according to their energy consumption, carbon emissions and fuel costs. The energy economics are best for electrifying rail-lines. Hydrogen costs must deflate 25-75% to be cost-competitive.

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  • CO2-EOR in Shale: the economics

    CO2-EOR in Shale: the economics

    We model the economics for CO2-EOR in shales, after interest in this topic spiked 2.3x YoY in the 2019 technical literature. We see 15% IRRs in our base case, creating $1.6M of incremental value per well, uplifting type curves by 1.75x. Greater upside is readily possible. Most exciting is the prospect for Permian EOR to…

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  • Next-generation nuclear companies: future fission and fusion?

    Next-generation nuclear companies: future fission and fusion?

    This data-file screens c30 next-generation nuclear companies at the cutting edge of fission and fusion technology. The median one employs 100 people, is developing a 150MWe reactor, and couldย reachย commerciality by 2035. But how has this landscape of companies progressed in the past few years?

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  • Investing for an Energy Transition

    Investing for an Energy Transition

    What is the best way for investors to drive decarbonisation? We argue a new โ€˜venturingโ€™ model is needed, to incubate better technologies. CO2 budgets can also be stretched furthest by re-allocating to gas, lower-carbon oil and lower-carbon industry. But divestment is a grave mistake.

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  • Shipping in batteries: the economics?

    Shipping in batteries: the economics?

    What if it were possible to displace diesel from high-cost, high-carbon island grids, by charging up large batteries with gas- and renewable power, then shipping the batteries? We model the economics to be cost-competitive, while CO2 emissions can be halved. Futher battery cost deflation will also help.

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  • Development Concepts: how much CO2?

    Development Concepts: how much CO2?

    We tabulate c25 oil projects, breaking down the total tons of steel and concrete used in their topsides, jackets, hulls, wells, SURF and pipelines.ย Infill wells, tiebacks and FPSOs make the most CO2-efficient use of construction materials per barrel of production, helping to minimise emissions. Fixed leg platforms are higher CO2, then gravity based structures, then…

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  • Solar Use within the Oil Industry?

    Solar Use within the Oil Industry?

    20 solar projects are being undertaken across the oil industry, to reduce CO2 emissions. But today’s project pipeline will obviate less than 1% of oil industry CO2 by 2025. So momentum must build behind these leading examples, which are: steam-EOR in Oman and California, Solar PV in the Permian, and specific companies such as Occidental,…

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  • Hybrid horizons: industrial use of batteries?

    Hybrid horizons: industrial use of batteries?

    Gas and diesel engines can be 30-80% less efficient when idling, or running at low loads. This is the rationale for hybridizing engines with backup batteries. Industrial applications are increasing, achieving 30-65% efficiency gains, across multiple industries. In 2018-19, the biggest new horizon has been in oil and gas, including hybrid rigs, supply vessels, construction…

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  • Heliogen: concentrated solar breakthrough?

    Heliogen: concentrated solar breakthrough?

    Heliogen has set a new record for concentrated solar power in 2019, generating >1,000C temperatures from an array of c370 hexagonal mirrors, which are precisely controlled using computer vision.ย This is almost 2x traditional CSP plants. Hence this data-file reviews 21 of Heliogen’s patents, finding impressive innovations and ultimate costs.

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  • Ten Themes for Energy in 2020

    Ten Themes for Energy in 2020

    Energy transition is maturing as an investment theme. โ€˜Obviousโ€™ portfolio tilts are beginning to look over-crowded. Non-obvious ones are looking over-looked. This note outlines the ‘top ten’ themes that excite us most in 2020, among commodities, drivers of the energy transition, market perceptions and corporate strategies.

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