Embodied energy of digital technology

Re:Embodied energy of digital technology by dredmorbius on Wednesday August 14, 2019 @03:40AM (#20693434)

AFAIR "easily" is a stretch -- there are highly efficient combined-cycle gas-turbine plants, and I think some of those actually get above 50% efficiency.

For most thermal generation, however, it's Carnot-cycle limits which get you down, and that's governed by hot vs. cold side efficiency.

Coal actually has some of the higher efficiencies, in some cases, exceeding 45%, though whether that's through high temps or combined cycle I'm not sure. (I'm not defending coal, just noting efficiency numbers I've encountered.)

Update: Wikipedia's language is "possibly 62%" efficiency, FWIW: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_cycle_power_plant

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Embodied energy of digital technology by londons_explore on Wednesday August 14, 2019 @07:03AM (#20694268)

You're right - only the best ones achieve 60+% efficiency.

For example, [1] achieved 63.08% efficiency at the whole-site level (ie. including inefficiencies in startup, testing, etc. over a year)

[1]: http://interfaxenergy.com/article/30230/chubu-electric-plant...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Embodied energy of digital technology by dredmorbius on Wednesday August 14, 2019 @05:42PM (#20700262)

Thanks.

[ Parent | on HN ]