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Letter Report: Critique of the Sargent and Lundy Assessment of Concentrating Solar Power Cost and Performance Forecasts (2002) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix D: A Summary of the Committee's Concerns About How the Sargent & Lundy Analysis Will Be Used
Pages 31-33

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 31...
... There is also no comparison to such baseline technologies as natural gas fired gas turbine combined cycles or clean coal plants and the projected performance and economics of these competing systems in 2020. Without such comparisons the S&L report's expansion scenario is not credible since the projections of future capacity depend strongly on the nature and magnitude of government subsidies as well as the relative attractiveness of CSP compared with other renewable and conventional energy.
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From page 32...
... Finding: Like all other new energy technologies, CSP faces tough competition from currently lower-cost fossil fuel alternatives, particularly natural gas. Because of low capital costs, high fuel conversion efficiencies, and most importantly, currently low fuel costs with minimal constraints on deliverability, natural gas combined-cycle plants represent the lowest cost option for aclding new or replacing oicl capacity in a size range that overlaps CSP trough and tower technology.
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From page 33...
... achieve the deployment goals. However, this action should not be taken until the commercial viability of CSP technology has been established.
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Key Terms

  • renewable energy
  • due diligence
  • government subsidies
  • energy technologies
  • private investment

  • csp technology
  • national objectives
  • cost basis
  • value unless
  • capital investment

  • indigenous renewable
  • cost option
  • tax incentives
  • improvements required
  • resource grade

  • arid southwest
  • minimal constraints
  • clean coal
  • lowering environmental
  • technologies relative

  • entire portfolio
  • include increased
  • significant government
  • energy technology
  • particularly natural

  • government tax
  • overlaps csp
  • financial analysis
  • increased energy
  • csp evaluations


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