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The switch from a fuel-intensive to a material-intensive system.

Roger B

A very succinct description of the problems facing us from E+T.

https://eandt.theiet.org/2025/05/13/electric-building-materials-short-supply

“Solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays and wind farms do not require fuel to operate, but they generally require more materials – including harder-to-find critical minerals and rare earths – to construct than polluting power stations. According to the IEA, an onshore wind plant requires nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired plant of the same capacity, while a typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car.”

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  • The switch from a fuel-intensive to a material-intensive system

    The big difference of course is that while fuel is burnt once and is then gone forever, materials can be recycled over and over again - so in a sense are more "borrowed" than "used". Certainly the steel and copper, likely the more expensive smaller items as well. The composite glass fibre wind turbine blades might be more of a challenge, but never say never - engineering is always coming up with new solutions.

       - Andy.

  • in reply to AJJewsbury

    Andy:

    The best example of material being recycled over and over is GOLD !

    Peter 

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  • in reply to Peter Brooks

    Peter,

    I agree that in all advanced countries who correctly count their population numbers there is a decline in numbers but in developing Africa and Sahara desert area the increase is horrifying and their economies cannot build fast enough to double every 20 years.

    See worldometers- by country stats.  They are not lying and global warming is the direct result.   

      www.worldometers.info/.../population-by-country

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