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" Socio-economic and Engineering Assessments of Renewable Energy Cost Reduction Potential "
Seel, Joachim
Borenstein, Severin
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Latin Dissertation
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English
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| Record Number
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906342
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TL14h9t4pj
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| Main Entry
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Seel, Joachim
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| Title & Author
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Socio-economic and Engineering Assessments of Renewable Energy Cost Reduction Potential\ Seel, JoachimBorenstein, Severin
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| College
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UC Berkeley
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| Date
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2017
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2017
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| Abstract
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This dissertation combines three perspectives on the potential of cost reductions of renewable energy – a relevant topic, as high energy costs have traditionally been cited as major reason to vindicate developments of fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, and to justify financial support mechanisms and special incentives for renewable energy generators. First, I highlight the role of market and policy drivers in an international comparison of upfront capital expenses of residential photovoltaic systems in Germany and the United States that result in price differences of a factor of two and suggest cost reduction opportunities. In a second article I examine engineering approaches and siting considerations of large-scale photovoltaic projects in the United States that enable substantial system performance increases and allow thus for lower energy costs on a levelized basis. Finally, I investigate future cost reduction options of wind energy, ranging from capital expenses, operating expenses, and performance over a project’s lifetime to financing costs. The assessment shows both substantial further cost decline potential for mature technologies like land-based turbines, nascent technologies like fixed-bottom offshore turbines, and experimental technologies like floating offshore turbines. The following paragraphs summarize each analysis:International upfront capital cost comparison of residential solar systemsResidential photovoltaic (PV) systems were twice as expensive in the United States as in Germany (median of
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Borenstein, Severin
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UC Berkeley
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