搜索结果：Breakeven

When comparing oil and gas projects - their relative attractiveness, robustness, and contribution to markets - various dollar per barrel benchmarks are quoted in the literature and in public debates. Among these benchmarks are a variety of breakeven points (also called breakeven costs or breakeven prices), widely used to predict producer responses to market conditions. These analyses have not proved reliable because (1) there has been no broadly accepted agreement on the definitions of breakeven points, (2) there are various breakeven points (and other benchmarks) each of which is applicable only at a certain stage of the development of a resource, and (3) each breakeven point is considerably more dynamic than many observers anticipated, changing over time in response to internal and external drivers. In this paper we propose standardized definitions of each breakeven point, showing which elements of field and well development are included in each. We clarify the purpose of each breakeven point and specify at which stage of the development cycle the use of each becomes appropriate. We discuss in general terms the geological, geographical, product quality, and exchange rate factors

Recently, it has been shown that altering the natural collisional power flow of the proton-Boron 11 (pB11) fusion reaction can significantly reduce the Lawson product of ion density and confinement time required to achieve ignition. However, these products are still onerous - on the order of $7 \times 10^{15}$ cm$^{-3}$s under the most optimistic scenarios. Fortunately, a breakeven fusion power plant does not require an igniting plasma, but rather a reactor that produces more electrical power than it consumes. Here, we extend the existing 0D power balance analysis to check the conditions on power plant breakeven. We find that even for the base thermonuclear reaction, modern high-efficiency thermal engines should reduce the Lawson product to $1.2 \times 10^{15}$ cm$^{-3}$s. We then explore the impact of several potential improvements, including fast proton heating, alpha power capture, direct conversion, and efficient heating. We find that such improvements could reduce the required Lawson product by a further order of magnitude, bringing aneutronic fusion to within target ITER design parameters.

Our research compares corporate breakeven costs since the 2008 Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Modernized Rules, offering valuable insight into industry trends. Analysis reveals that corporate and basin-specific breakeven costs can be misleading without proper context. We found that from 2009 to 2022, the median and average breakeven price of all publicly traded companies in barrel of oil equivalent (BOE) were $47/BOE and $59/BOE, respectively. Unfortunately, the median and average realized revenue for these same companies was $45/BOE and $53/BOE. Market capitalization substantially impacts breakeven costs and realized revenue. Many perceive small companies to be much more efficient operators with lower breakeven prices, but the data provides a compelling argument to the contrary. The inclusion of capital costs, taxes, and debt as well as non-cash items like depreciation, depletion, and amortization (DD&A) also provide noteworthy observations when grouped by market capitalization. The results inform corporate profitability, operating efficiency, and the capital-intensive nature of the industry. Our research compiled more than a decade of corporate annual filings from o

This paper is an update to our earlier paper ''Progress toward fusion energy breakeven and gain as measured against the Lawson criterion'' [Phys. Plasmas 29, 062103 (2022)]. Plots of Lawson parameter and triple product vs. ion temperature and triple product vs. date achieved are updated with recently published experimental results. A new plot of scientific energy gain vs. date achieved is included. Additionally, notes on new experimental results, clarifications, and a correction are included.

Physical qubits in a quantum computer are often represented by superposition states of single particles or excitations. Decay of the excitation itself is a fundamental error channel that is difficult to overcome via external drive or control techniques. Quantum error correcting codes, which encode information in superpositions involving multiple excitations, provide a path to preserve information beyond the capacity of individual excitations, but typically require exquisite active operations on the system. Here, we demonstrate a steady-state driven dissipative quantum system, composed of a superconducting cavity and a transmon ancilla, that preserves a logical qubit beyond the photon-lifetime limit by about 5% using a binomial encoding. This realization of continuous quantum error correction at the breakeven point highlights the quantitative competitiveness of passive correction strategies while circumventing some demanding hardware requirements of its active counterparts.

Nuclear fusion promises a nearly limitless energy source, but achieving breakeven-where fusion output exceeds input-requires extreme plasma conditions and complex confinement systems. Here we propose an alternative approach based on beam-target interactions, introducing a simple energy-based criterion that compares fusion energy generation with energy loss. By creating electron-free targets, stopping power is drastically reduced, enabling conditions where fusion energy surpasses beam energy deposition under practical scenarios. This approach offers a viable alternative pathway to fusion energy without high-temperature plasma confinement and warrants further experimental investigation.

Summary This paper analyzes the economic impact of the oil prices, the domestic resource gaps, and the fiscal and external breakeven oil prices on the oil exporting countries (OECs). Specifically, this paper aims to examine the empirical behaviors of the oil prices, the domestic resource gaps, and the fiscal and external breakeven oil prices along with their influence on the economy of Saudi Arabia in order to determine the oil-economic gain/loss (OEG/L) and its influences on the Saudi Arabia economy over the period of 2008 to 2018. This study uses exploratory research design, with both linear and nonlinear regression models. This paper finds the oil prices, the domestic resources gaps, and the fiscal and external breakeven oil prices exert significant influences on the economic growth in Saudi Arabia. In addition, the fiscal breakeven oil price is considerably high in Saudi Arabia and has a marginal OEG/L of USD 2.3582 per barrel. Moreover, it is observed that the oil price has an irregular and unpredictable movement behavior and co-moved with the domestic resource gaps in Saudi Arabia. The findings implies that the economy diversification in Saudi Arabia could be achieved by sett

The Lawson criterion is a key concept in the pursuit of fusion energy, relating the fuel density $n$, pulse duration $τ$ or energy confinement time $τ_E$, and fuel temperature $T$ to the energy gain $Q$ of a fusion plasma. The purpose of this paper is to explain and review the Lawson criterion and to provide a compilation of achieved parameters for a broad range of historical and contemporary fusion experiments. Although this paper focuses on the Lawson criterion, it is only one of many equally important factors in assessing the progress and ultimate likelihood of any fusion concept becoming a commercially viable fusion-energy system. Only experimentally measured or inferred values of $n$, $τ$ or $τ_E$, and $T$ that have been published in the peer-reviewed literature are included in this paper, unless noted otherwise. For extracting these parameters, we discuss methodologies that are necessarily specific to different fusion approaches (including magnetic, inertial, and magneto-inertial fusion). This paper is intended to serve as a reference for fusion researchers and a tutorial for all others interested in fusion energy.

Introduction There are finite resources available to spend on healthcare, with the increasing burden of disease and the increasing cost of providing healthcare it is imperative that methods for optimising health systems to improve sustainability are investigated. This study is part of a larger body of work investigating the potential for telehealth to improve the economic sustainability of the health system. The aim of this sub-analysis is to investigate the breakeven point for implementing a telehealth service; that is the point after which the initial investment is recouped and the cost savings have become tangible. Method Literature searches were conducted using broad terms for telehealth and economics to identify economic evaluation literature focusing on telehealth. Articles were included if they reported their findings from a health system perspective, demonstrated cost savings, and provided sufficient information to calculate the breakeven point. Results Less than half of the economic analysis studies examined reported cost savings for the health system as a result of telehealth. The breakeven point could be calculated for 12 articles, all of which were included in the analy

Male calves are purchased from the dairy industry in North America to produce red meat. The price paid for male calves varies widely, and it is unclear which variables influence the price paid for each calf. The objective of this study was to assess how the health traits of calves at the time of arrival and demographic variables affect the breakeven purchase price of a male calf entering the veal industry. A financial model was constructed using the prevalence of health abnormalities, weight at arrival, source of the calf, number of days in the barn, base carcass price, days to mortality, feed costs, season at arrival, interest rate, housing location, carcass dressing percentage, and costs associated with housing, labor, utilities, trucking, and health to calculate the breakeven purchase price and an estimate of profit. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using health variables measured at arrival and demographic variables, including season at arrival and housing location, to identify the factors with the largest impact on the predicted average daily gain, early and late mortality risk, breakeven purchase price, and profit. At the baseline inputs, the average calculated profit was -

The inertial confinement fusion program relies upon detailed simulations with inertial confinement fusion (ICF) codes to design targets and to interpret the experimental results. These simulations treat as much physics from essential principles as is practical, including laser deposition, cross beam energy transfer, x-ray production and transport, nonlocal thermal equilibrium kinetics, thermal transport, hydrodynamic instabilities, thermonuclear burn, and transport of reaction products. Improvements in radiation hydrodynamic code capabilities and vast increases in computing power have enabled more realistic, accurate 3D simulations that treat all known asymmetry sources. We describe how numerical simulations helped to guide the program, assess the impediments to breakeven, and optimize every aspect of target design. A preshot simulation of the first National Ignition Facility experiment that surpassed breakeven predicted an increased yield that matches the experimental result, within the preshot predicted uncertainty, with a target gain of 1.5. We will cover the key developments in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory ICF codes that enabled these simulations and give specific exa

Abstract Most of the regional airports in India are financially unsustainable because of low and fluctuating passenger traffic. Despite double digit passenger traffic growth since past four years, most regional Indian airports are yet to achieve financial sustainability due to high fixed operating costs and low non-aeronautical revenue. The Indian government is putting special emphasis on regional air connectivity through UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) scheme. However, it is difficult to ascertain whether such schemes can ensure airport profitability. This paper attempts to find the operating breakeven point in terms of annual passenger traffic for 27 regional airports over a period of three years from 2014-15 to 2016-17. The method used is simple linear regression of operating revenue and operating cost with passenger traffic. The method as well as findings have been corroborated with relevant literature. The breakeven point changes 0.8 million passengers in 2014-15 to 0.6 million passengers in 2016-17. Most regional airports in the sample have more than 0.5 million passengers per annum and this paves way for smaller and upcoming airports looking for incentive schemes to attract ai

Fusion "scientific breakeven" (i.e., unity target gain G_{target}, total fusion energy out > laser energy input) has been achieved for the first time (here, G_{target}∼1.5). This Letter reports on the physics principles of the design changes that led to the first controlled fusion experiment, using laser indirect drive, on the National Ignition Facility to produce target gain greater than unity and exceeded the previously obtained conditions needed for ignition by the Lawson criterion. Key elements of the success came from reducing "coast time" (the time duration between the end of the laser pulse and implosion peak compression) and maximizing the internal energy delivered to the "hot spot" (the yield producing part of the fusion fuel). The link between coast time and maximally efficient conversion of kinetic energy into internal energy is explained. The energetics consequences of asymmetry and hydrodynamic-induced mixing were part of high-yield big radius implosion design experimental and design strategy. Herein, it is shown how asymmetry and mixing consolidate into one key relationship. It is shown that mixing distills into a kinetic energy cost similar to the impact of implosion

Electrification is considered key to decarbonizing the transport sector. While electric vehicles (EVs) lack tailpipe emissions, battery and electricity production can lead to significant emissions. This study analysed whether EVs can effectively mitigate GHG emissions in North America, by calculating two GHG breakeven indicators for EVs and comparing them to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). EV life cycle emissions were compared to those of ICEVs in Canada, Mexico, and the USA. In addition, this study considered potential national electricity grids evolutions and improvements in battery production and vehicle efficiency. The study estimated that EVs in Canada, the USA, and Mexico would see environmental benefits after 18.0, 25.1, and 25.6 thousand driven kilometres, respectively, as compared to petrol vehicles. Regionally, Québec had the lowest emissions (12.9 tCO2eq) for EVs while Iowa (62.0) had the highest. In several states, EVs did not outperform ICEVs. Emissions from EVs are expected to decrease in coming years as the carbon intensity of electrical grids decreases. Policies should consider prioritising grid decarbonization over EV uptake where regional grid GHG int

Electric vehicles (EVs) are often considered a potential solution to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions originating from personal transport vehicles, but this has also been questioned due to their high production emissions. In this study, we performed an extensive literature review of existing EV life-cycle assessments (LCAs) and a meta-analysis of the studies in the review, extracting life-cycle GHG emission data combined with a standardized methodology for estimating GHG electrical grid intensities across the European Economic Area (EEA), which were used to estimate a set of environmental breakeven points for each EEA country. A Monte Carlo simulation was performed to provide sensitivity analysis. The results of the review suggest a need for greater methodological and data transparency within EV LCA research. The meta-analysis found a subset of countries across the EEA where there is a potential that EVs could lead to greater life-cycle GHG emissions than a comparable diesel counterpart. A policy discussion highlights how EV policies in countries with contrasting GHG electric grid intensities may not reflect the current techno-environmental reality. This paper emphasizes the

Energy arbitrage is attracting interest of Energy Storage Systems developers and owners to provide net revenue in transmission and distribution systems. We have analyzed the potential revenue of a generic Energy Storage System (ESS) within the electricity market of PJM in 8 deferent locations where such technology is already installed. We used hourly Day-Ahead and Real-time locational marginal prices over the seven-year period 2008–2014, assuming a price-taking dispatch with perfect foresight. The charge-discharge profiles were optimized to determine The minimum potential revenue for 1 MW system for 70% round trip efficiency in those 8 locations. We performed a sensitivity analysis to verify the dependence on rated discharge duration and its variation over the years. We determined the breakeven overnight installed cost below which energy arbitrage would be profitable.

暂无摘要

Solving the Fermi–Hubbard model is a central task in the study of strongly correlated materials. Digital quantum computers can, in principle, be suitable for this purpose, but have so far been limited to quasi-one-dimensional models. This is because of exponential overheads caused by the interplay of noise and the non-locality of the mapping between fermions and qubits. Here we use a trapped-ion quantum computer to experimentally demonstrate that a recently developed local encoding can overcome this problem. In particular, we show that suitable reordering of terms and application of circuit identities—a scheme called corner hopping—substantially reduces the cost of simulating fermionic hopping. This enables the efficient preparation of the ground state of a 6 × 6 spinless Fermi–Hubbard model encoded in 48 physical qubits. We also develop two error mitigation schemes for systems with conserved quantities, based on local postselection and on extrapolation of local observables, respectively. Our results suggest that Fermi–Hubbard models beyond classical simulability can be addressed by digital quantum computers without large increases in gate fidelity. Digital quantum simulations of f

Agriculture is widely recognized as a solution to food insecurity and poverty, especially in rural areas. However, 75% of the world’s poor live in rural areas, and agriculture is the primary source of their livelihood. One may wonder if the observed correlation between agriculture and poverty also suggests causation. If that is the case, then what such causal relationship might exist? Is agriculture a vehicle for poverty alleviation or a source of poverty trap? The role of climate change is rather undisputed: associated extreme weather phenomena cause severe negative impacts on agriculture, exacerbating rural poverty. However, climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is acclaimed to potentially reverse the situation by eliminating poverty and food insecurity. Against this backdrop, the paper investigates whether smallholder farmers who adopt CSA could achieve food security and better income. This aim was approached through three key research objectives (i) to examine the effects of climate change on smallholder farmers, (ii) to examine the extent to which smallholder farmers adopt CSA and the barriers to adoption, and (iii) to investigate empirically the effects of CSA practices in terms of

暂无摘要