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green econometrics

Information and analysis on the economics of solar and alternative energies

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Entries from September 2007

Can Canadian Tar Sands rescue our appetite for Oil?

September 27th, 2007 · No Comments

Oil prices remain at historically high levels and threaten our economy with higher home heating and transportation costs. With a lot of rhetoric over Peak Oil as well as claims that Tar Sands offer a viable substitute for oil, let’s examine a couple of facts to determine the feasibility […]

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Tags: Oil Energy · CO2 Emissions · Energy Security · Fuel Cells · Tar Sands · Fuel Costs · Carbon Emissions · Coal Energy · Solar Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Energy Economics

Research at Caltech may provide clues to improving solar cell efficiency

September 26th, 2007 · 1 Comment

With rising energy prices and growing concern over global warming, will advances in solar and alternative energies enable the development of affordable and efficient energy solutions. Caltech research on the energy conversion process may offer some insight.
Energy conversion, ways of converting sunlight to electric and chemical energy, offers promising advancements to make solar […]

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Tags: Energy Security · Carbon and Climate · Solar Efficiency · Hydrogen Energy · Fuel Cells · Carbon Economics · Fuel Costs · Solar Energy · Solar Stocks · Alternative Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Energy Economics

Home Heating Concerns

September 25th, 2007 · No Comments

With oil prices over $80 per barrel, the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association in its press release today Record Home Heating Prices for Heating is expecting the average home heating cost for the ’08-’08 season to rise 9.9%. For homeowners using oil heat, heating costs are expected to increase 28% and […]

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Tags: Global Warming · Propane Energy · Oil Energy · CO2 Emissions · Carbon and Climate · Ethanol Energy · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Energy Expenditures · Carbon Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Solar Energy · Historic Energy · Home Energy Economics · Alternative Energy · Home Heating Costs · Fuel Costs · Carbon Emissions · Energy Costs · Energy Economics

Hostage to Oil

September 21st, 2007 · No Comments

Without greater investment into solar and hydrogen energies, we are held hostage to rising oil prices. Alternative energies such as solar and hydrogen fuel cells offer tremendous potential to provide energy independence and energy security. The dependence of the U.S. upon imported foreign oil raises inflation, weakens our currency, exacerbates the trade deficit, […]

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Tags: Transportation Energy Economics · Ethanol Energy · Natural Gas Energy · Propane Energy · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · Energy Security · Hydrogen Economics · Hydrogen Energy · Energy Independence · Solar Efficiency · Wood Energy · Oil Energy · Alternative Energy · Solar Energy · Coal Energy · Home Energy Economics · Energy Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Carbon Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Fuel Costs · Energy Economics

Solar Efficiency

September 17th, 2007 · No Comments

There is considerable variance in calculating the cost of solar energy. Using U.S. Solar Radiation Resource Maps from the National Solar Radiation Data BaseThe (NSRDB) we found the amount of kilowatt-hours (KWH) per days of solar radiation per square-meter varies from less than two for Northern Alaska to six KWH/m2 per day […]

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Tags: Fuel Costs · Energy Security · Solar Efficiency · Energy Independence · Fuel Efficiency · Energy Costs · Home Energy Economics · Solar Stocks · Solar Energy · Alternative Energy · Energy Economics

Solar Energy Parity

September 13th, 2007 · No Comments

How long will it take before solar energy is at parity with hydrocarbon fuels? In terms of cost per Kilowatt-Hour (KWH), solar energy is four-to-ten times the cost of hydrocarbon fuels. Green Econometrics’ research estimates that solar energy cost about $0.38-to-$0.53 per KWH. (See Understanding the Cost of Solar Energy […]

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Tags: Fuel Costs · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Oil Energy · Energy Security · Fuel Efficiency · Energy Costs · Home Energy Economics · Solar Stocks · Solar Energy · Alternative Energy · Energy Economics

Solar Energy: The Security Perspective

September 12th, 2007 · 2 Comments

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s $23.6 Billion Spending Plan for FY’07 calls for $1.5 billion for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy where spending includes $28 million in solar, $16 million for thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing equipment to reduce the cost of solar panels, $23 million for researching ethanol, and […]

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Tags: Hydrocarbon Fuels · Fuel Costs · Carbon Economics · Oil Energy · Energy Security · Energy Expenditures · Carbon Footprint · Carbon Emissions · Solar Stocks · Home Energy Economics · Solar Energy · Alternative Energy · Fuel Efficiency · Energy Costs · Energy Economics

Ethanol: Benefits and Issues

September 6th, 2007 · No Comments

There are several studies evaluating ethanol as fuel for transportation that offer both positive and negative impacts from ethanol. On the positive side there is less CO2 emitted from ethanol than conventional hydrocarbon fuels, domestic producers gain economic value from employment and purchasing power, and there is less dependence on foreign oil. Other […]

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Tags: CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Oil Energy · Ethanol Energy · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · Transportation Energy Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Fuel Costs · Alternative Energy · Solar Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Carbon Footprint · Carbon Emissions · Energy Economics

How vulnerable are we to energy shocks?

September 4th, 2007 · 1 Comment

The second category 5 hurricane to hit Caribbean in two weeks leaves uncertainty in the energy market as oil prices head higher. While it is hard to draw the direct correlation between global warming and hurricanes strength, the fact is the oil production in the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 32% of our total […]

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Tags: CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Oil Energy · Global Warming · Carbon and Climate · Fuel Costs · Carbon Footprint · Wind Energy · Solar Energy · Alternative Energy · Energy Costs · Carbon Emissions · Energy Economics