A reader asked for my comment on this technology: turbines installed inside of municipal water pipes that converts some of that hydrokinetic energy into electricity. First, let’s start with the most obvious: this doesn’t apply to water that is flowing …
Tag: levelized cost of energy
The Race for Clean Energy Has Several Entrants
The energy scene here on planet Earth can be summarized as follows: we’re trying to solve a problem so profound that the continuity of our civilization hangs in the balance. We either replace fossil fuels over the next few decades, …
A Couple of Bad Ideas in Renewable Energy
My good friend Henry asked me to check out these two companies: SolarWindow and LiquidSolar. Henry: Thanks for thinking of me. Companies like Solar Window make me nervous.
Solar PV: Is Bigger Better?
We’ve all had the thought: What are the relative merits of utility-scale solar PV vs. the distributed, rooftop version? To be sure, there are numerous factors to be considered. In terms of the levelized cost of energy for each kWh, …
Bladeless Wind Turbine
If we have any heavyweights in fluid dynamics out there who would like to comment on this concept, I would appreciate it. It’s a bladeless wind turbine, one that captures energy from the moving air by shaking rather than turning. …
Fossil Fuels Will Soon Be Obsolete
A reader offered this quote from Buckminster Fuller: “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” So true.
Good Ideas in Clean Energy Are Actually Quite Rare
A reader commented on my post “The Hedge Connection” – Bringing Together Investors (“Allocators”) with Hedge Fund Managers: “ideas are a dime a dozen.” It is true that ideas are a dime a dozen. The same can’t be said about “good …
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More on High-Altitude Wind
I’ve been in touch with the fellow in Italy I mentioned earlier on my piece about high-altitude wind power, in which I expressed concern that the levelized cost of energy for his concept (KiteGen) wouldn’t be competitive with other energy …
Unlike Solar PV, A Concentrated Solar Power Plant is a Real Edifice
I laughed out loud when I read Glenn Doty’s comment on my piece in which I mentioned the levelized cost of energy of both solar PV and CSP. After an analysis of some of the engineering details, he writes: I …
Unlike Solar PV, A Concentrated Solar Power Plant is a Real Edifice Read More »
Tipping Point for Wind Energy
It seems like only yesterday that I wrote this piece in which I pointed out that Fox News was deliberately misleading its viewers with respect to clean energy. “Yes, renewables are more expensive than coal,” I admitted, “But that’s hardly …
