Green Energy Lab

Seven models for the questions in this book. Change an assumption, and watch the conclusion move. All figures are simplified for learning.

Lab 1. Cost of a Unit (LCOE) Explorer

Levelised cost spreads a plant's lifetime cost over the units it generates. Pick a technology, then change the capacity factor and see what happens to the cost per unit.

Capacity factor

Plant life (years)

Lab 2. Battery Chooser

Pick a job, and see which storage technology fits. There is no single winner — only the right tool for the duty.

Lab 3. EV vs Petrol Calculator

Compare a petrol car and an electric car over a year: running cost, carbon dioxide, and how long a higher purchase price takes to pay back.

Distance per year (km)

Petrol price (₹/litre)

Mileage (km/litre)

Electricity (₹/unit)

Extra price of the EV (₹)

Lab 4. Green Hydrogen Cost

Hydrogen is made by electrolysis. Its cost is dominated by the price of electricity and by how many hours the electrolyser runs.

Electricity price (₹/unit)

Electrolyser use (kWh/kg)

Running hours per year

Lab 5. Fusion Q Explorer

Fusion needs high temperature, high density and long confinement together. Move all three and see whether you reach break-even. This is a simplified teaching model of the triple product.

Temperature (million °C)

Density (relative)

Confinement time (seconds)

Lab 6. Design a 24-Hour Clean Grid

Build a mix for a state with a 40 GW evening peak. Add solar, wind, firm power (hydro and nuclear) and batteries, then see how many hours are covered and how much coal is still needed.

Solar (GW)

Wind (GW)

Firm: hydro + nuclear (GW)

Battery energy (GWh)

Lab 7. Clean-Energy Career Explorer

Pick what you enjoy — more than one if you like — and see where it fits in the energy transition. There are no wrong answers here.