tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post1625366155160652765..comments2024-01-14T22:07:22.183-08:00Comments on Sustainable Energy - without the hot air: Mysterious cheap electricity generated in NevadaDavid MacKay FRShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08023079754784119955noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-62321461139453552952009-05-20T02:18:01.047-07:002009-05-20T02:18:01.047-07:00According to the Air Force Times (http://www.airfo...According to the Air Force Times (http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/11/airforce_nellis_solar_071119w/, also referenced in the Wiki article), the Air Force is definitely only paying 2.2 cents per kilowatt-hour, so no error in Wiki there. <br /><br />As for the business case: if MMA can fully use the 30% tax credit, their net investment drops to $70m. Selling the renewable energy credits to Nevada Power yields another $2.25 million/year. If Patrick's estimates hold true, then electricity sales provide another $2.6 m/year. <br /><br />Net return (on the $70m) is about 5%, without taking into account any other subsidies that may apply. (Payback is therefore in about 20 years).VictorMollohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01368651562276499146noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-33637626966252402572008-09-09T17:26:00.000-07:002008-09-09T17:26:00.000-07:00Actually the patent office doesn;t care whether a ...Actually the patent office doesn;t care whether a technology works or not - that is not its remit (there are patents for Faster-than-light travel engines and perpetual motion machines on the books).<BR/><BR/>This patent was refused on the grounds of it being 'excluded matter' - i.e. not something that qualifies for a patent, such as a scientific discovery or a computer program (the patent appears to be some combination of these).Wookeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18233663118088182820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-75552659909038636042008-08-19T02:21:00.000-07:002008-08-19T02:21:00.000-07:00Paul, the UK patent office refused black light'...Paul, the UK patent office refused black light's patent application because their technology is widely regarded as false.<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/6eztwj<BR/><BR/>It might be interesting to find a physical explaination of their observations, eg. if two hydrogen atoms make a 2p->1s transition whilst they are within an optical wavelength of each other (subject to a constraint on angular momentum), the atoms can decay coherently to produce a single photon of high energy, rather than two photons of the "usual" energy.<BR/><BR/>The high energy photon is detected by "black light" and incorrectly attributed as evidence of a new state of matter.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13990697434635759101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-85561276158052895322008-07-29T10:06:00.000-07:002008-07-29T10:06:00.000-07:00Dear David,Perhaps we could all look at long last ...Dear David,<BR/>Perhaps we could all look at long last at:<BR/>Hydrogen Power Stations.<BR/>The only place on the web that <BR/>I know exists is:<BR/><BR/>http://www.blacklightpower.com/<BR/><BR/>Is Cambridge lagging behind the USA?<BR/>Are there any other Hydrogen Scientists?<BR/>Paul CoxonUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05145429409118845585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-41608761332154676402008-07-25T13:44:00.000-07:002008-07-25T13:44:00.000-07:00Yeah - the fact that the "land" is clay-capped lan...Yeah - the fact that the "land" is clay-capped landfill, which couldn't be used for anything for surface construcion without extensive cleanup, was a big factorMaysonicWriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15191812487437295702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-76877610597525565542008-07-25T10:33:00.000-07:002008-07-25T10:33:00.000-07:00It also says that, as part of the deal, the compan...It also says that, as part of the deal, the company "<I>is leasing the land </I>[from the Air Force]<I> at no cost</I>"; I don't know what it would have cost to lease an equivalent plot, but that's part of the payment the company is getting from the Air Force.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08749459207189576328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-54256930992694707312008-07-24T11:53:00.000-07:002008-07-24T11:53:00.000-07:00per wikipedia green credits went from $0.005 to $0...per wikipedia green credits went from $0.005 to $0.09 per Kwh in 2006 (after adjusting the units).<BR/><BR/>At the higher end of the price spectrum, and assuming that electricity prices will rise (to pay for the cost of green credits if nothing else), this project starts to make sense (cost paid off within the useful lifetime of its solar panels)<BR/><BR/>Also, based on sunpower's claim that it needs 1.8-2.4 Hectares per megawatt, it looks as if they are 'leasing' more land than they need, and have the room to install 50-100% more panels if economic conditions warrant.Patrick (G)https://www.blogger.com/profile/18037803973879425662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-40557523041203253302008-07-23T05:39:00.000-07:002008-07-23T05:39:00.000-07:00Note: there are also 30% federal tax credits invol...Note: there are also 30% federal tax credits involved.MaysonicWriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15191812487437295702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-21320514574937123442008-07-23T05:21:00.000-07:002008-07-23T05:21:00.000-07:00The owner of the plant(MMA) is also selling the "g...The owner of the plant(MMA) is also selling the "green credits" to Nevada Power for an undisclosed(as far as I could see) amount. Nevada Power is required by state law to produce a certain percentage of renewable energy.MaysonicWriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15191812487437295702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6156940350159100953.post-35850018842128444032008-07-22T14:23:00.000-07:002008-07-22T14:23:00.000-07:00if the difference of 6.88 cents saves the Air Forc...if the difference of 6.88 cents saves the Air Force a million dollars, then the Air Force is only buying about 15M Kwh from them, leaving the utility about 10M+ Kwh/yr to resell at 9 cents/Kwh. <BR/><BR/>The value of the electricity generated might actually be higher if they can get a 'green' premium for it. Or they may expect the price of electricity to risePatrick (G)https://www.blogger.com/profile/18037803973879425662noreply@blogger.com