Renewable Energy Stocks: Is it time?

[tayser]

And also - dont forget carbon capture storage is going to form a huge part of the energy mix - Gillard's Treasury graphs even show it - another area which will see a ****load of money flow into it, thus keeping the coal industry relevant.

 

[Starcraftmazter]

Iceland gets 30% of it's energy from geothermal power (and it's only one of the countries which use it); so it is quite proven.

 

[alexc2005]

Iceland gets 30% of it's energy from geothermal power (and it's only one of the countries which use it); so it is quite proven.

I may be talking crap but i suspect that the more proven method is volcanic geothermal.

Australia is more hot rock geothermal = drilling expensive holes, + hoping they get the flowrate they need + high transmission costs/losses because the good spots are usually in remote areas = pretty hard to justify.

Carbon tax wont do **** to make geothermal more economical. Price of power on the market is $20-30/MW, I did an assignment that showed for anything green to get more economical than coal fired, the price would have to be way over $20.

 

[nioka]

Watch for "Regenerative Drive" technology.This is about to get a lot of publicity. It is storing braking energy and releasing it for accelleration when required. it is possible to cut fuel costs by up to 30% and at the same time decrease engine wear and increase brake lining and tyre life.

An outfit suitable for garbage compactors will soon be under trial closely followed by a bus and a prime mover. Not exactly renewable energy but something that will save energy, reduce polution and dramatically reduce transport costs.

Is it time? Yes its time has arrived.

 

[Wysiwyg]

Carbon tax wont do **** to make geothermal more economical. Price of power on the market is $20-30/MW, I did an assignment that showed for anything green to get more economical than coal fired, the price would have to be way over $20.

Would the extraction of heat eventually lead to the source rock cooling in any given location? Believe it or not, with people wanting more than they need to survive, we are slowly sucking the life out of the planet.

 

[nioka]

Australia is more hot rock geothermal = drilling expensive holes, + hoping they get the flowrate they need + high transmission costs/losses because the good spots are usually in remote areas = pretty hard to justify.

Some have projects close to existing transmission lines. Some are close to major projects that use a lot of power. One is almost in the centre of Perth. Another close to Geelong. Choose one that has the old real estate advantage (Location. Location, Location.) I have three in the bottom drawer.( shares in companies that is not bore holes)

 

[alexc2005]

The thing that i was trying to get across is this.

Carbon tax is a tax on Carbon, not CO2.

Therefore the introductory rate of $23 per tonne of carbon is actually a $6.20 tax per tonne of C02 (CO2 is 27% carbon by weight).

In an assignment i did for a power generation masters course we came up with the following numbers.

Carbon tax for coal to be no longer worthwhile VS. NGCC(natural gas combined cycle) = $55

From $55 to $61/tonne NGCC is the most viable.

Then nuclear takes the reigns and due to its nill emissions, dominates the rest of the spectrum.

It was found for wind to be viable the carbon tax would need to be $230/tonne

Geothermal wasn't included in the analysis but I think (from memory) that two holes need to be drilled to make it viable, you are looking at around 100mil per hole and even then they could be useless.

Looking at the geodynamics site i think they quote around $50/MWH, keeping in mind that the figure i have for nuclear is $53/mwh, at current carbon tax prices its not advantageous, but time will tell.

Personally i love geothermal, its a great idea and i think its where the future is, but not until there is more security in its application.

We will get there one day though.

I was actually keeping a keen eye on the geodynamics shares up until a couple of months ago when i decided they werent doing anything and i cbf watching them. So i missed the buying opportunity at 12c, and then watched it soar to 46c on the back of the carbon tax announcement. Can't win em all...

 

[iRod]

From today's ClimateSpectator commentary on Petratherm ...

http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/geothermal-getting-warmer

The next step is to consider the data and decide on the placement of the Paralana 3 production well, to be drilled later this year. When that is completed, along with circulation tests next year, then a 3.75MW pilot plant could be installed by the end of 2012 – a critical stepping stone before a planned 30MW plant that it hopes could supply energy to the nearby Beverley uranium mine, and potentially the giant Olympic Dam project nearly.

And Mr Brown & Ms Milne want to promote geothermal because......???:

And just how much of the $12b fund will go to this project?? I suspect there will be a clause underlined in red that the govt must directly fund thus project & not from the green energy fund.

Either way it's more than just a little bit ironic!! ...If the first successful geothermal plant in Oz, will provide electricity to the world's biggest Uranium mine. What's a Greenie to do?

 

[Knobby22]

From today's ClimateSpectator commentary on Petratherm ...

http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/geothermal-getting-warmer



And Mr Brown & Ms Milne want to promote geothermal because......???:

And just how much of the $12b fund will go to this project?? I suspect there will be a clause underlined in red that the govt must directly fund thus project & not from the green energy fund.

Either way it's more than just a little bit ironic!! ...If the first successful geothermal plant in Oz, will provide electricity to the world's biggest Uranium mine. What's a Greenie to do?

That's hilarious