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Information and analysis on the economics of solar and alternative energies

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Entries Tagged as 'Fuel Costs'

Energy Crisis - What Can We Do

June 14th, 2008 · No Comments

As energy and food prices set new world records, what can we do at home to avert the crisis? Food prices are rising because corn is diverted from food production to producing ethanol for use as fuel in motor vehicles and is exacerbated by the recent flooding in the Mid West. Oil […]

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Tags: Ethanol Energy · Carbon and Climate · Global Warming · Oil Energy · Energy Security · Solar Efficiency · Peak Oil · Corn Ethanol · Solar Energy Economics · Energy Independence · CO2 Emissions · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Alternative Energy · Wind Energy · Solar Energy · Home Energy Economics · Home Heating Costs · Energy Costs · Fuel Costs · Carbon Footprint · Carbon Emissions · Energy Economics

Blame high food and energy prices on the White House

March 15th, 2008 · 1 Comment

With the infinite wisdom of the White House and U.S. Congress, food prices are now directly tied to the price oil. The price of corn-based ethanol is now determined by the price of gasoline that it substitutes in motor vehicles and that price is established by supply and demand for oil. The price […]

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Tags: Energy Security · Ethanol Energy · Energy Independence · Hydrogen Energy · Peak Oil · Corn Ethanol · Carbon and Climate · Global Warming · Alternative Energy · Wind Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Costs · Oil Energy · Solar Energy

The Economics of Energy – why wind, hydrogen fuel cells, and solar are an imperative

January 30th, 2008 · No Comments

From the Industrial Revolution we learned that economic growth is inextricably linked to energy and as a result, our future is dependent upon equitable access to energy. When the Stourbridge Lion made entry as the first American steam locomotive in 1829 it was used to transport Anthracite coal mined in nearby Carbondale, PA to […]

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Tags: Global Warming · Carbon and Climate · Wood Energy · Oil Energy · CO2 Emissions · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · Energy Expenditures · Fuel Cells · Hydrogen Energy · Energy Independence · Energy Security · Carbon Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Wind Energy · Solar Energy · Historic Energy · Coal Energy · Alternative Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Costs · Carbon Footprint · Carbon Emissions · Fuel Efficiency · Energy Economics

Ethanol offers short-term solutions, but corn-based ethanol is not the answer

January 6th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Ethanol may emit less CO2 and help reduce the demand for foreign oil in the short term, but ethanol and in particular, corn-based ethanol raises food prices, is less efficient than gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel, and is not a substitute for oil.
According to research compiled by National Geographic Magazine , the energy balance of […]

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Tags: Energy Security · Energy Independence · Energy Expenditures · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · Transportation Energy Economics · Hydrogen Energy · Fuel Cells · Switchgrass Ethanol · Corn Ethanol · Solar Energy Economics · Energy Density · Specific Energy · Ethanol Energy · Oil Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Alternative Energy · Wind Energy · Solar Energy · Carbon Emissions · Carbon Footprint · CO2 Emissions · Carbon Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Fuel Costs · Energy Economics

The Importance of Energy to Economic Growth

December 5th, 2007 · No Comments

A brief review of history and in particular the industrial Revolution, it’s quite apparent that economic growth is inextricably linked to energy. As energy is tied to our economy, our future is dependent upon equitable access to energy. This in turn sets the framework of our dependence on oil and hence, why our […]

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Tags: Oil Energy · Energy Expenditures · Energy Security · Energy Independence · Fuel Costs · Energy Costs · Solar Energy · Wind Energy · Alternative Energy · Coal Energy

Energy Shocks: Vulnerability Update

November 2nd, 2007 · No Comments

Rising oil prices have driven exploration and drilling activity, yet oil production remains anemic in comparison. Could the latest data suggest oil production is nearing a peak? With global demand expected to rise over 30% by 2030 according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, Handicapping the Environmental Gold Rush […]

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Tags: Oil Energy · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Transportation Energy Economics · Energy Security · Hydrogen Energy · Fuel Costs · Energy Costs · Historic Energy · Home Energy Economics · Solar Energy · Wind Energy · Alternative Energy · Energy Economics

Solar and Hydrogen: Energy Economics

October 31st, 2007 · 1 Comment

After reviewing some of the details of Honda’s experimental solar-power hydrogen refueling station in Torrance, CA and its fuel cell vehicle several questions concerning efficiency and practicality come to mind. It most be noted that solar and hydrogen don’t emit harmful byproducts such as carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide so both technologies […]

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Tags: Hydrogen Energy · Energy Independence · Solar Efficiency · Hydrogen Economics · Specific Energy · Solar Energy Economics · Energy Density · Energy Security · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · Alternative Energy · Solar Energy · Fuel Efficiency · Carbon Emissions · CO2 Emissions · Fuel Costs · Energy Economics

Solar and Hydrogen Energy - where vehicle fuel efficiency is headed

October 17th, 2007 · 2 Comments

Despite efforts that have enabled the U.S. to limit its demand for oil, world oil demand is up significantly. Advances in technology such as solar energy and vehicle fuel cell could help the world reduce its dependence on oil.
Figure 1 Oil and Gold Prices

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the […]

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Tags: Energy Security · Automobile Fuel Efficiency · Transportation Energy Economics · Oil Energy · Energy Independence · Hydrogen Energy · Biodiesel Energy · Fuel Cells · Hydrogen Economics · CO2 Emissions · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Alternative Energy · Solar Energy · Historic Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Fuel Costs · Carbon Footprint · Carbon Emissions · Energy Economics

Economics of Solar Energy – price parity and efficiency: Are we there yet?

October 12th, 2007 · No Comments

With the Solar Decathlon is taking place in Washington DC today promoting commercially available solar energy technology and oil prices pushing to an all time high of $84/barrel, where are we in terms of cost parity with hydrocarbon fuels. Advances in solar energy technology, lower production costs, and rapidly rising oil costs […]

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Tags: Energy Security · Oil Energy · Solar Efficiency · Semiconductor Band Gaps · Solar Energy Economics · Hydrocarbon Fuels · Fuel Costs · Solar Energy · Alternative Energy · Energy Costs · Fuel Efficiency · Solar Stocks

A small investment produces huge savings on your electric bill

October 9th, 2007 · No Comments

My September electric bill arrived the other day and I was interested in comparing my energy savings after swapping 60 and 100-watt light bulbs for Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL), as recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Our progress in migrating to solar and wind energy is moving slower than expected. […]

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Tags: Fuel Costs · Carbon Footprint · Carbon Economics · CO2 Emissions · Carbon and Climate · Carbon Emissions · Energy Costs · Home Energy Economics · Coal Energy · Solar Energy · Wind Energy · Energy Economics

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