Extended Data Fig. 7: Energy payback time of renewable energy systems. | Nature Energy

Extended Data Fig. 7: Energy payback time of renewable energy systems.

From: Estimation of useful-stage energy returns on investment for fossil fuels and implications for renewable energy systems

Extended Data Fig. 7

Range of final-stage energy payback times (EPTf) alongside useful-stage energy payback times (EPTu) when renewable energy (wind power and solar photovoltaics) substitutes the average fossil fuel mix (avg), coal products, fossil gas, oil and gas products (OG), and oil products. Final-stage energy payback times are calculated from the EROI values reported in [30], using an average lifetime of 25 years. Boxplots determines with n = 29. EPTf: min=0.90, Q1=1.42, median=1.72, Q3=2.46, max=3.15. EPTu,avg: min=0.69, Q1=1.10, median=1.33, Q3=1.91, max=2.44. EPTu,coal: min=0.68, Q1=1.07, median=1.30, Q3=1.86, max=2.38. EPTu,gas: min=0.61, Q1=0.96, median=1.17, Q3=1.67, max=2.14. EPTu,OG: min=0.70, Q1=1.11, median=1.34, Q3=1.93, max=2.46. EPTu,oil: min=0.79, Q1=1.24, median=1.50, Q3=2.16, max=2.75.

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