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Old 07-03-2013, 01:07 PM   #16
ksanders
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City: SEWARD ALASKA
Vessel Name: DOS PECES
Vessel Model: BAYLINER 4788
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There are allot of competing technologies that are in development for micro power generation. The market potential for a successful technology is huge.

Just think, if you could have a unit outside your home that was quiet, dependable, and less expensive to operate than your electric company would you buy it?

The problem is we are not quite there yet. Right now, today these technologies are not cost justifiable. Solar is getting close. Wind is almost there as well, and in some cases is cost justifiable.

Maybe 10 years, maybe 20 years, but the days of large centralized power generation are nearly over.

Some of this technology will be applicable to pleasure boat use, and some will not. Its certainly not the pleasure boat industry driving the research, not enough potential sales there. The challenge for boaters is that allot of this technology is going to be based on natural gas as a fuel. Right now we have excess supply of natural gas in the USA (cant speak for other countries). That fairly inexpensive BTU source is what will drive the fossil fuel based technologies cost basis, which will drive their acceptability and market penetration.
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Kevin Sanders
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