(Shayne Reynolds)
“The Earth’s ecosystem is being destroyed at an unprecedented rate as a consequence of our gullibility and illogical shift towards destructive, and polluting renewable energy sources
Powered by fossil fuels, the industrial revolution transformed the world over the past two centuries. As we shift towards so-called ‘greener and cleaner’ energy systems, it is crucial to understand that there is a lot more at stake than meets the eye. Global institutions that have always placed profits over people now claim to be moving towards renewable sources of energy such as solar energy, wind energy, and compressed natural gas (CNG). Governments around the world are encouraging citizens to switch to renewables as a result of International climate summits, and corporate-level adoption. While it may seem like the best way forward on the surface, it is merely an eye-wash to fool humans into feeling better about our energy choices.
What is conveniently being ignored is that the manufacturing process for renewables requires larger amounts of minerals to be extracted from beneath the earth’s surface. To make matters worse, fossil fuels are required at every stage of the manufacturing process. It is only logical that the solution to a problem should not be worse than the problem itself. Let us look at a few popular renewable sources of energy that we are shifting towards.
Solar Energy: The sun provides the Earth with an unlimited source of renewable energy which can be converted and stored as electrical energy using solar panels and batteries. While this may sound like a good idea in theory, in practice, a long list of minerals need to be mined from locations across the globe and it includes Aluminium, Silver, Silicon, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Nickel, Gallium, Cadmium, Indium, Selenium, Tin, Tellurium, and Molybdenum. Solar batteries for energy storage also contain elements such as Chromium, Graphite, Cobalt, Manganese, Vanadium, Lithium-ion, and Lead-acid.
To extract these minerals; forests, deserts, lakes, riverbeds, ocean floors, and mountains are destroyed, along with their surrounding ecosystems. Some of these elements are rarer than others, making the process more expensive. Mining is a highly energy-intensive process that is powered by fossil fuels.
Solar Energy Limitations: Solar panels neither recharge at night, nor in the rain, and are unlikely to recharge during the winter season or under overcast skies. Moreover, solar batteries have a limited life and storage capacity, which requires them to be scrapped every few years. Solar panels also occupy a lot of space and provide only a limited amount of low-intensity energy.
A mid-sized house in a location with abundant sunlight requires at least 15 solar panels to be set up if they use energy conservatively.
Wind Energy: Wind energy also requires an intensive fossil-fuelled manufacturing process for wind turbines. Wind turbine manufacturing requires materials such as Steel/Fibreglass/Plastic, Iron/Cast Iron, Copper, Aluminium, Shale, Gypsum, Clay, Limestone, Cement, and crushed stone.
Rotor blades require foams, polymers, and rubbers. Generators require Cobalt, Baron, and rare earth oxides such as Neodymium, Dysprosium, Terbium, and Praseodymium to create the permanent magnetic properties of windmills.
Another aspect is the disproportionate distribution of these rare earth oxides across the globe. For example, India, Russia, Vietnam, Thailand, Brazil, and Madagascar respectively produce only 1% of the world’s rare mineral oxides, while China produces 62%, the USA produces 12%, and Australia and Myanmar produce 10% respectively. Transportation costs and geo-political issues are likely to play a key role in the mining and supply of these minerals.
Limitations of Wind Energy: Wind blows inconsistently depending on the geographical location, season, and time of the year. Wind energy also generates a very small amount of energy which is stored in massive batteries under the earth. These batteries also require minerals to be mined. However, these batteries do not last for more than a few years, after which the windmills need to be uprooted, and rebuilt from scratch.
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): In theory, CNG is produced using Biomass from decomposing trees and wood. However, the largest CNG companies in the world are ironically funded by major logging companies that chop down trees at unprecedented rates, with utter disregard for sensitive ecosystems such as the Amazon rainforest, and Alaska. The burning of trees also releases thick carbon emissions from CNG production sites.
Alternatively, Biomass fuel is being produced from crocodile fat and seaweed destroying beautiful land and underwater ecosystems.
Limitations of CNG: To produce energy equivalent to a fossil fuel plant, approximately 400,000 tons of trees per year have to be felled and burned. Additionally, CNG lacks the power generation capacity of traditional fossil fuels. It provides less mileage for vehicles, is more combustible, and therefore more dangerous to travelers, and vehicle owners. CNG cylinders take up more storage space and add to a load of vehicles.
In conclusion, the terms “Green, Clean, and Renewable” are being used as a marketing ploy. Mining companies employ children and adults living below the poverty line in poor African nations. No health benefits, life insurance, or compensation money is provided in case of death or injury. It is hypocritical that labor laws are completely disregarded in Africa by the same corporations that boast about their employee-friendly culture in the ‘developed world’.
Rethinking our priorities, openly questioning the decision-making process of corporations, and educating government representatives who are pushing green initiatives is the need of the hour. (The views expressed by the author are personal)
