all units lifetime avg unless denoted [nameplate]
all watts electric unless denoted [th]
t is metric tonne
material flows
coal (fuel only): 2100 t/GWh (3/4 CO2, 1/4 coal & ash)
fission (AP1000, total ex. ore & overburden): 0.3 t/GWh (mostly concrete)
solar PV (Sanyo HIT Power 215N, panel only): 2.2 t/GWh (@ 7.2e9 J/m2yr)
solar PV (First Solar FS-387, panel only): 3.2 t/GWh (@ 7.2e9 J/m2yr)
tidal (Atlantis AK1000): 2.5 t/GWh (@ 100% c.f. x 60 yr; Severn barrage: 22% c.f.)
wind (Areva M5000-135, top mass only): 1.1 t/GWh (mostly steel)
wind (Vestas, complete V112 plant): 7.5 t/GWh (1/4 metal, 3/4 concrete)
wind, offshore (Hywind Scotland): 27 t/GWh (1/3 metal)
land requirements
fission (Diablo Canyon NPP): 1.0 km2/GW
fission (McDonald et al 2009): 21 km2/GW
fission (Fukushima excl. zone): 630 km2/GW (8.78e5 GWh; 20 km radius for 100 yr)
oil sands (Syncrude leases): 110 km2/GW[th] (8.15e6 GWh[th]; 1020 km2 for 100 yr)
solar CSP tower (Ivanpah 2015): 215 km^2/GW
solar CSP trough (Andasol 1 & 2): 111 km2/GW
solar PV (Agua Caliente Phase 1): 136 km2/GW
solar updraft (Environmission tower skirt): 200 km2/GW[nameplate]
tidal (Wavehub, all 4 plots): 400 km2/GW[nameplate]
wind (Dabiri 2011): 400 km2/GW
wind (McDonald et al 2009): 630 km2/GW
wind (Denholm et al 2009, direct impact area): 30 km2/GW
wind (Denholm et al 2009, total area): 1040 km2/GW
EROIs
fission (gen II LWRs, WNA 2012): 58
fission (gen III LWRs, Weissbach et al 2013): 105
oil sands (Syncrude 2012): 4.4
solar PV (CdTe, Fthenakis et al 2009): 12
wind (Vestas 2011): 30
misc. energy prices (2013 midyear)
wheat flour $95/GJ
PV panel (Sanyo 215N) $33/GJe
gasoline (U.S. avg) $27/GJ
crude oil (WTI spot) $17/GJ
natural gas (PG&E) $11/GJ
uranium (in an AP1000) $0.38/GJe
energy intensity of common materials
| MJ/kg | g/cm3 | GJ/m3 | principal inputs | |
| Aluminum | 220 | 2.7 | 590 | bauxite |
| Copper | 70 | 8.9 | 630 | chalcopyrite |
| Steel | 35 | 7.8 | 270 | iron ore |
| Plastic (LDPE) | 80 | 0.92 | 74 | petroleum |
| Glass | 16 | 2.5 | 40 | sand |
| Asphalt concrete | 2.4 | 2.3 | 5.5 | gravel, bitumen |
| Concrete | 1.4 | 2.3 | 3.2 | rock, sand, Portland cement |