Logo image

the research consultancy for energy technologies

Search results for: “renewables”

  • Carbon offsets: costs and leading companies?

    Carbon offsets: costs and leading companies?

    This data-file screens 30 companies that are offering CO2 offsets to consumers and commercial customers. Costs vary from $4-40/ton, as a function of project types and organizational structure. We recently used the data-file to offset 200T of CO2, in the most economical, tax-efficient and personally resonant way.

    Read more

  • Solar Energy: Where’s the IP?

    Solar Energy: Where’s the IP?

    We have tabulated 110,000 solar patents. Research peaked in 2012-13, at 11,500 patents/year. It since slowed to c6,000/year. Yet Chinese companies have ramped up to 50% of all the filings, and now comprise 14 out of 2019’s top 25 solar patent filers. Majors’ patents comprise c0.5% of the total, with one SuperMajor clearly leading.

    Read more

  • Solar power: the economics?

    Solar power: the economics?

    Levelized costs of solar electricity are estimated at 7c/kWh in our base case, but can realistically range from 4-40c/kWh. This data-file is a breakdown of solar costs, as a function of capex, opex, insolation, curtailment and decline rates. Solar can be highly competitive, up to 35-50% of many power grids.

    Read more

  • Offshore wind costs are inflating?

    Offshore wind costs are inflating?

    This data-file tabulates the capex costs of 35 offshore wind projects in the UK, with 8.5GW of capacity, which have been installed since the year 2000.ย There is little evidence for deflation. Rather, breakeven power prices appear to have risen at a 2.5% CAGR over the past decade. Our modelling is show in the data-file.

    Read more

  • Energy Costs of Constructing Solar Assets

    Energy Costs of Constructing Solar Assets

    This data-file quantifies the energy costs of manufacturing solar panels, based on 10 studies and prior projects. We see the average solar project requiring 5MWH/kW, with a 2.3-year energy payback, a c10x energy-return on energy-invested and CO2-intensity of 90kg/boe (for contrast, average oil is c440kg/boe and average gas is c350kg/boe).

    Read more

  • Solar water heaters: the economics?

    Solar water heaters: the economics?

    Under our base case estimates, a $130/ton CO2 price is required to achieve passable economics and incentivize rooftop solar heaters. Once installed, solar heaters save around 1T of CO2 per household per year and lower water heating bills by 50-80%.ย This data-file models the economics.

    Read more

  • US ethanol plants: what CO2 intensity?

    US ethanol plants: what CO2 intensity?

    US bioethanol plants produce 1Mbpd of liquid fuels, with an average CO2 intensity of 85kg/boe. Overall, corn-based bioethanol has c40% lower CO2 than oil products. We screened the leaders and laggards by CO2-intensity, covering Poet, Valero, Great Plains, Koch, Marathon and White Energy.

    Read more

  • Biomass to biofuel, or biomass for burial?

    Biomass to biofuel, or biomass for burial?

    Greater decarbonization at a lower cost is achievable by burying biomass (such as corn or sugarcane) rather than converting it into bio-ethanol.ย This model captures the economics. Detailed costs and CO2 comparisons are shown under different iterations.ย 

    Read more

  • Leading Companies in Battery Recycling?

    Leading Companies in Battery Recycling?

    This data-file tracks over 6,000 patents filed into battery recycling technology, escalating at a 15% CAGR since 2000. 18 technology leaders are profiled ex-China, including 6 global, large-cap listed companies and 10 private companies, including some exciting, early-stage concepts to improve material recovery and costs.

    Read more

  • Nuclear Power Project Economics

    Nuclear Power Project Economics

    This data-file models the costs of nuclear power project, based on technical papers and past projects around the industry. An up-front capex cost of $6,000/kW might yield a levelized cost of 15c/kWh. But 6-10c/kWh is achievable via a renaissnace in next-generation nuclear.

    Read more

Content by Category