Renewable energy economics

Wind energy economics focuses on the fuel-saving aspects of this renewable resource, but capacity benefits and pollution reduction are important considerations as well. The capital costs are significant, hut there is no annual fuel cost as is associated with fossil fuel technologies. Thus, wind energy has been used... 

Short, W. Packey, D. and Holt, T. (1995). A Manual for the Economic Evaluation of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies NREL/TP-462-5173. Golden, CO National Renewable Energy Lahoratoiy. 

An increase in energy supplies would obviously relieve the pressures. While major additional contributions might come from renewable energy or fusion, it would be impmdent to count on them. Therefore, to avoid a tremendous gamble on the economic and social future of the world, it is important to lay the foundation for a substantial expansion in the use of fission energy. 

Ragwitz, M. and Resch, G. (2006). Economic Analysis of Reaching a 20% Share of Renewable Energy Sources in 2020. Karlsruhe, Germany. 

Spath, P., Aden, A., Eggeman, T. el al. (2005). Biomass to Hydrogen Production -Detailed Design and Economics Utilizing the Battelle Columbus Laboratory Indirectly-heated Gasifier. Battelle National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). www.nrel.gov/docs/fy05osti/37408.pdf. 

Renewable hydrogen is mainly an economic option in countries with a large renewable resource base or a lack of fossil resources, for remote and sparsely populated areas (such as islands) or if surplus electricity from intermittent renewable energies must be stored. Otherwise, renewable hydrogen needs to be incentivised or mandated. 

Dr Joan Ogden is Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of California, Davis, and Director of the Sustainable Transportation Energy Pathways Program at the campus s Institute of Transportation Studies. Her primary research interest is the technical and economic assessment of new energy technologies, especially in the areas of alternative fuels, fuel cells, renewable energy and low carbon energy systems. She received a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois, and a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Maryland. 

NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory). Lignocellulosic biomass to ethanol process design and economics utilizing co-current dilute add prehydrolysis and enzymatic hydrolysis for com stover. Golden, CO US (2002). Report available on web http //www.mel.gov/ docs/ fy02osti/32438.pdf... 

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