Philosophy
Like it or not coal generated energy will be here for a long time. James McNerney. Jessika E. Trancik, and J. Doyne Farmer have written an interesting paper on coal/energy.
Abstract:
We study the costs of coal-fired electricity in the United States between 1882 and 2006 by decomposing it in terms of the price of coal, transportation costs, energy density, thermal efficiency, plant construction cost, interest rate, and capacity factor. The dominant determinants of costs at present are the price of coal and plant construction cost. The price of coal appears to fluctuate more or less randomly while the construction cost follows long-term trends, decreasing from 1902 - 1970, increasing from 1970 - 1990, and leveling off or decreasing a little since then. This leads us to forecast that even without carbon capture and storage, and even under an optimistic scenario in which construction costs resume their previously decreasing trending behavior, the cost of coal-based electricity will drop for a while but eventually be determined by the price of coal, which varies stochastically but shows no long term decreasing trends. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of using long time series and comparing different electricity generation technologies using total costs, rather than costs of single components like capital.
Historical Costs of Coal-Fired Electricity and Implications for the Future
- Nuclear Projects...now Reality Is Setting In
Economics, not fretting about nuclear waste will kill the projects. "Nuclear projects face financial obstacles" by Steven Mufson March 2nd, 2010 Washington Post Hopes for a nuclear revival, fanned by fears of global warming and a changing political...
- Nuclear Socialism?
As mentioned earlier [ Obama gives green light to new reactors ] Obama is pandering to visions of pie in the sky and offering what author Michael Grunwald terms "nuclear socialism". This is by no means a done deal and is already drawing criticism. [See...
- Chu: Coal And Nuclear Energy
Retired Big Brutus Mineral, Kansas More on Stephen Chu and pressure from Republicans demanding that "...Mr. Chu be a more forceful advocate for nuclear energy." "Chu Softens Views on Coal, Nuclear Power" by Stephen Power January 14th, 2009 The Wall Street...
- Steven Chu's Slight Change
Will Steven Chu's slight change be significant? Is this the tip of the iceberg for more radical changes? I suppose time will reveal if another mistake has been made. "Energy Nominee Shifts His Stance" by Matthew L. Wald January 13th, 2009 The New...
- Chemical Industry Raises Prices
This two fold increase of 45% in two months through out the chemical industry will have a huge trickle down effect on every citizen on the globe. We are not privy to the ledgers of these companies but one wonders if this is an ethical and justifiable...
Philosophy
King coal and energy
Like it or not coal generated energy will be here for a long time. James McNerney. Jessika E. Trancik, and J. Doyne Farmer have written an interesting paper on coal/energy.
Abstract:
We study the costs of coal-fired electricity in the United States between 1882 and 2006 by decomposing it in terms of the price of coal, transportation costs, energy density, thermal efficiency, plant construction cost, interest rate, and capacity factor. The dominant determinants of costs at present are the price of coal and plant construction cost. The price of coal appears to fluctuate more or less randomly while the construction cost follows long-term trends, decreasing from 1902 - 1970, increasing from 1970 - 1990, and leveling off or decreasing a little since then. This leads us to forecast that even without carbon capture and storage, and even under an optimistic scenario in which construction costs resume their previously decreasing trending behavior, the cost of coal-based electricity will drop for a while but eventually be determined by the price of coal, which varies stochastically but shows no long term decreasing trends. Our analysis emphasizes the importance of using long time series and comparing different electricity generation technologies using total costs, rather than costs of single components like capital.
Historical Costs of Coal-Fired Electricity and Implications for the Future
- Nuclear Projects...now Reality Is Setting In
Economics, not fretting about nuclear waste will kill the projects. "Nuclear projects face financial obstacles" by Steven Mufson March 2nd, 2010 Washington Post Hopes for a nuclear revival, fanned by fears of global warming and a changing political...
- Nuclear Socialism?
As mentioned earlier [ Obama gives green light to new reactors ] Obama is pandering to visions of pie in the sky and offering what author Michael Grunwald terms "nuclear socialism". This is by no means a done deal and is already drawing criticism. [See...
- Chu: Coal And Nuclear Energy
Retired Big Brutus Mineral, Kansas More on Stephen Chu and pressure from Republicans demanding that "...Mr. Chu be a more forceful advocate for nuclear energy." "Chu Softens Views on Coal, Nuclear Power" by Stephen Power January 14th, 2009 The Wall Street...
- Steven Chu's Slight Change
Will Steven Chu's slight change be significant? Is this the tip of the iceberg for more radical changes? I suppose time will reveal if another mistake has been made. "Energy Nominee Shifts His Stance" by Matthew L. Wald January 13th, 2009 The New...
- Chemical Industry Raises Prices
This two fold increase of 45% in two months through out the chemical industry will have a huge trickle down effect on every citizen on the globe. We are not privy to the ledgers of these companies but one wonders if this is an ethical and justifiable...