Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory Public Relations

ABSTRACT:
This report presents a detailed methodology for preparing cost profiles of prototype, nonconventional energy technologies for use with economic input-output analysis. The application of the costing methodology is represented in the final chapter where economic profiles are presented for 12 solar energy-related technologies. A central theme of this report is the development of a practical, theoretical framework that yields the most suitable configuration of the technology cost profiles. At issue is how to, most correctly, characterize an emerging technology so that industry-related impacts, caused by its potential future application, may be assessed by using an input-output model of the economy. In general terms the theoretical problem is one of specifying an emerging, but currently nonexistent, industrial sector within an existing economic matrix.

In a step-by-step manner, this report progresses from the theoretical to the applied and shows how consistent economic profiles can be built up from the engineering specifications of a prototype energy conversion system.… (más)

ABSTRACT:
A solar industrial process heat technology and an associated solar systems manufacturing plant for the year 2000 has been projected, defined, and qualitatively characterized. The technology has been defined for process heat applications requiring temperatures of 300°c or lower, with emphasis on the 150°-300°c range. The selected solar collector technology is a parabolic trough collector of the line-focusing class. The design, structure, and material components are based upon existing and anticipated future technological developments in the solar industry. The solar system to be manufactured and assembled within a dedicated manufacturing plant is projected to consist of the collector and the major collector components, including reflector, absorber, parabolic trough structure, support stand, tracking drive mechanism, sun-sensing device and control system, couplings, etc. Major manufacturing processes to be introduced into the year 2000 plant operations are glassmaking, silvering, electroplating and plastic-forming. These operations will generate significant environmental residuals not encountered in present-day solar manufacturing plants. Important residuals include chemical vapors, acids, toxic elements (e.g. arsenic), metallic and chemical sludges, fumes from plastics, etc. The location, design, and operations of these sophisticated solar manufacturing plants will have to provide for the management of the environmental residuals. In addition, national level evaluations of the economic and environmental impacts of expanded solar technologies will have to account for these new operations for new solar manufacturing plants that may be located at enlarged or new industrial sites across the nation.… (más)

ABSTRACT:
This report provides a detailed, technical account of the results of a 2-year study of small vs. large coal-fired power plants in the Rocky Mountain West. Prepared by an interdisciplinary team of scientists, the report examines the differences between a single 3000 MW plant and several 500 MW plants that would deliver an equivalent amount of electrical power. Economic issues examined in the study include the tradeoffs between economies of scale and reliability, the problems of obtaining permit approval, the accuracy of load forecasting, and the difficulties in planning and financing capacity additions. Environmental issues include the degradation of atmospheric visibility caused by air pollution, the effect of mining, transporting, and burning coal on occupational and public health and safety, the boom town impacts on the small towns near the construction sites, and the impacts associated with the consumption of water for plant cooling. The economic and environmental analyses were performed for large and small plants that are located in southeastern Utah, burn coal from nearby underground mines, and transmit electricity to southern California for consumption.

The report concludes with a summary of the economic and environmental results of the comparison of large and small plants. Environmental differences are found to be extremely dependent on site specific features. Consequently, the environmental findings are not easily transferred to other regions of the country. The economic differences, on the other hand, are much less dependent on the specific set of assumptions used in the study and, therefore, are more likely to apply to utilities operating in other regions of the country.… (más)

ABSTRACT:
The environmental data presented in this report are in partial response to the Technology Assessment of Solar Energy (TASE) program. TASE is an assessment of the potential environmental, socioeconomic, and institutional impacts of solar technologies on the national, regional, and local community levels.

The results of studies of seven solar thermal energy applications are presented. Five of these are residential applications: space heating--active liquid, space heating--active air, domestic hot water--active, space heating--passive, and space heating and cooling--active liquid. Denver, Colorado, was selected as a representative location for each of the above applications. The remaining two applications produce industrial process heat: a flat-plate collector system producing 50°C - 100°C hot water for a commercial laundry in Indianapolis, Indiana; and a concentrating collector system that could produce 100°C - 300°C process heat adequate to the needs of a pulp mill in Madison, Wisconsin.

For each application, a representative system model and preliminary de-signs of major system elements were established. Then the following data were generated: annual useful energy produced, type and weight of the basic component materials, environmental residuals generated during system operation, and land and water requirements. These data were generalized for other TASE study purposes by expressing them as quantities per 10^15 Btu of useful energy. This report discusses the system characteristics and evaluates the environmental impacts. To allow the reader to estimate system performance at other geographic locations than those studied, insolation and other pertinent data are provided.

There is an almost unlimited variety of solar and conservation elements that can be combined in a system for any application. Also, there are many potential improvements that can be speculated upon, but which were not included in these studies. Therefore the data developed here must be regarded as a "first-cut" at the subject area and it is recommended that more model systems be added for future TASE studies.

For solar space heating and cooling, the direct operating residuals were found to be minimal. Material requirements are high, however, and indirect residuals and impacts may be significant. The latter were not addressed in these studies but will be included in future TASE studies.

The same comments apply to the industrial process heat systems. The potential for the application of solar energy to meet industrial process heat loads appears very favorable. This is because industrial demand is approximately constant throughout the year, competent maintenance and operating personnel would be available as an inherent element of industrial operations, and the systems would be both larger and fewer in number, probably making it easier for the government to develop effective incentives for commercialization.… (más)