Myths/there are no sustainable energy sources/consumption - Revision history

Woozle: Woozle moved page Myths/There are no sustainable energy sources/consumption to Myths/there are no sustainable energy sources/consumption without leaving a redirect: consistency with other myth names

2015-07-01T23:02:36Z

Woozle moved page Myths/There are no sustainable energy sources/consumption to Myths/there are no sustainable energy sources/consumption without leaving a redirect: consistency with other myth names

Woozle: post-migration adaptation

2015-07-01T22:47:13Z

post-migration adaptation

Woozle: 5 revisions

2015-07-01T22:27:05Z

5 revisions

Woozle at 13:35, 2 October 2013

2013-10-02T13:35:46Z

Woozle: new solar cell tech

2013-06-15T01:35:28Z

new solar cell tech

Woozle: refinement of #2

2013-06-14T01:17:44Z

refinement of #2

Woozle: link from Michelle Cameron

2013-06-13T18:56:45Z

link from Michelle Cameron

Woozle: Created page with "{{subpage}} ==About== One form of the argument claiming that there are no sustainable energy sources focuses on the consumption necessary to produce sustainable energy. Th..."

2013-06-13T01:35:20Z

Created page with "{{subpage}} ==About== One form of the argument claiming that there are no sustainable energy sources focuses on the consumption necessary to produce sustainable energy. Th..."

New page

{{subpage}}
==About==
One form of the argument claiming that [[there are no sustainable energy sources]] focuses on the consumption necessary to produce sustainable energy. The argument generally goes something like this:
* Even sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind power require rare-earth minerals (for solar cells, generator magnets, and storage batteries)
* Mining of rare earth minerals is just as environmentally disastrous as mining of oil and coal, or [[fracking]] of natural gas.
* Therefore sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar are no more unsustainable than oil, coal, and natural gas.
===Flaws===
Flaws with this argument include the following:

1. '''The rate of usage for sustainables is orders of magnitude lower.'''

The rare-earth minerals used by sustainable energy sources are used to build the ''conversion devices'' -- that is, the devices necessary to convert solar and wind power from their naturally-occurring forms into usable electricity.

This differs sharply from fossil fuels, where the materials mined are themselves burned to make energy -- they are the fuel. Material mined for sustainable energy generally goes to make durable goods -- motors and solar cells. (Batteries might not be classified as "durable goods", but they are typically used for many years and then recycled.)

This leads to two key differences in how sustainables use mined materials:
* The rate of consumption is orders of magnitude lower than for fossil fuels. {{l/foot|2008-02-28/DK}}
** A pound of selenium, for example, might be used in the manufacture of several kilowatts worth of generation capacity with an expected lifespan somewhere in the range of five to thirty years (and likely generating many tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours of power).
** A pound of coal or oil is burned up for the sake of generating something on the order of a kilowatt-hour of energy.
* When sustainable conversion equipment reaches the end of its life, the minerals it uses can be recycled. (More about this below.)

2. '''Newer solar and battery technologies use more common minerals.'''

''researching this -- but research in this area is very intense right now, including the search for ways of accomplishing conversion with cheaper materials, and new discoveries happen regularly''

3. '''Rare earths are recyclable.'''

''researching this -- although certainly batteries are recyclable (and many areas require a "core deposit" to encourage people to bring large rechargeable batteries in for recycling) and electronic equipment and metals are also highly recyclable.''

4. '''The argument presumes that "sustainability" requires ''no consumption.'''''

This is a [[perfectionism straw-man]] argument. All that is required is for sustainables to consume at a rate lower than that of replacement -- i.e. (in this case) more slowly than the materials can be reclaimed or recycled.
==Sources==
* {{t/foot|2008-02-28/DK|[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/02/28/466075/-Lifecycle-Costs-of-Photovoltaics Lifecycle Costs of Photovoltaics] "Using data compiled from the original records of twelve PV manufacturers, we quantified the emissions from the life cycle of four major commercial photovoltaic technologies and showed that they are insignificant in comparison to the emissions that they replace when introduced in average European and U.S. grids."}}

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{subpage}}
+==Myth==
-==About==
+The "consumption" argument against sustainable generally goes something like this:
 * Even sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind power require rare-earth minerals (for solar cells, generator magnets, and storage batteries)
 * Mining of rare earth minerals is just as environmentally disastrous as mining of oil and coal, or [[fracking]] of natural gas.
 * Therefore sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar are no more sustainable than oil, coal, and natural gas.
-===Flaws===
+==Reality==
-Flaws with this argument include the following:
+The problems with this argument include the following:
-. '''The rate of usage for sustainables is orders of magnitude lower.'''
+===1. The rate of usage for sustainables is orders of magnitude lower.===
-The rare-earth minerals used by sustainable energy sources are used to build the ''conversion devices'' -- that is, the devices necessary to convert solar and wind power from their naturally-occurring forms into usable electricity.
+The rare-earth minerals used by sustainable energy sources are used to build the ''conversion devices'' &ndash; that is, the devices necessary to convert solar and wind power from their naturally-occurring forms into usable electricity. '''They are not consumed as part of the energy-production process.''' Material mined for sustainable energy generally goes to make durable goods -- motors and solar cells. (Batteries might not be classified as "durable goods", but they are typically used for many years and then recycled.)
-This differs sharply from fossil fuels, where the materials mined are themselves burned to make energy -- they are the fuel. Material mined for sustainable energy generally goes to make durable goods -- motors and solar cells. (Batteries might not be classified as "durable goods", but they are typically used for many years and then recycled.)
+This differs sharply from fossil fuels, where the materials mined are themselves '''burned to make energy''' &ndash; they are the fuel. Once burned, they cannot be recycled.
 This leads to two key differences in how sustainables use mined materials:
-* The rate of consumption is orders of magnitude lower than for fossil fuels. {{l/foot|2008-02-28/DK}}
+* The rate of consumption is orders of magnitude lower than for fossil fuels. <ref name=2008-02-28/DK />
 ** A pound of selenium, for example, might be used in the manufacture of several kilowatts worth of generation capacity with an expected lifespan somewhere in the range of five to thirty years (and likely generating many tens of thousands of kilowatt-hours of power).
 ** A pound of coal or oil is burned up for the sake of generating something on the order of a kilowatt-hour of energy.
 * When sustainable conversion equipment reaches the end of its life, the minerals it uses can be recycled. (More about this below.)
-. '''The need for rare minerals is overstated, at best.'''
+===2. The need for rare minerals is overstated, at best.===
-* The most common type of [[wikipedia:solar cell|solar cell]] is made of silicon, the most common mineral on Earth. {{l/foot|2008-06-12/MZJ}} {{l/foot|MADEHOW}}
+* The most common type of [[wikipedia:solar cell|solar cell]] is made of silicon, the most common mineral on Earth.<ref name="2008-06-12/MZJ" /><ref name=MADEHOW />
-* The most common types of batteries are [[wikipedia:Lead�acid battery|lead-acid]] and [[wikipedia:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion]], neither of which require any particularly rare minerals and which are also recyclable. {{l/foot|LBRCOM}} {{l/foot|KFGCOM}} {{l/foot|BATTUNIV}}
+* The most common types of batteries are [[wikipedia:Lead&ndash;acid battery|lead-acid]] and [[wikipedia:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion]], neither of which require any particularly rare minerals and which are also recyclable.<ref name=LBRCOM /><ref name=KFGCOM /><ref name=BATTUNIV />
 * Research on solar cell and rechargeable battery technology is very intense right now, including the search for cheaper materials, and new discoveries happen regularly.
-** a new sulfur-based rechargeable battery outperforms Li-ion batteries.{{l/foot|2013-06-05/PO}} (Sulfur is even more common than lithium.)
+** a new sulfur-based rechargeable battery outperforms Li-ion batteries.<ref name="2013-06-05/PO" /> (Sulfur is even more common than lithium.)
-** many new solar cell technologies are available; some of the most efficient are still based on silicon, though others do use rare earths.{{l/foot|2013-05-14/RMI}}
+** many new solar cell technologies are available; some of the most efficient are still based on silicon, though others do use rare earths.<ref name="2013-05-14/RMI" />
-. '''Rare earths are recyclable.'''
+===3. Rare earths are recyclable.===
-Although supplies have so far been sufficiently plentiful that most rare earths currently do not get recycled, they are definitely recyclable; as supplies become less adequate to meet demand, recycling is therefore likely to increase. {{l/foot|MOLYCORP}}
+Although supplies have so far been sufficiently plentiful that most rare earths currently do not get recycled, they are definitely recyclable; as supplies become less adequate to meet demand, recycling is therefore likely to increase. <ref name=MOLYCORP />
-. '''The argument presumes that "sustainability" requires ''no consumption.'''''
+===4. The argument presumes that "sustainability" requires ''no consumption.''===
-This is a [[perfectionism straw-man]] argument. All that is required is for sustainables to consume at a rate lower than that of replacement -- i.e. (in this case) more slowly than the materials can be reclaimed or recycled.
+This is a {{l/ip|perfectionism straw-man}} argument. All that is required is for sustainables to consume at a rate lower than that at which they are replaced &ndash i.e. (in this case) more slowly than the materials can be reclaimed or recycled.
-==Sources==
+==Footnotes==
-* {{t/foot|2008-02-28/DK|[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/02/28/466075/-Lifecycle-Costs-of-Photovoltaics Lifecycle Costs of Photovoltaics] "Using data compiled from the original records of twelve PV manufacturers, we quantified the emissions from the life cycle of four major commercial photovoltaic technologies and showed that they are insignificant in comparison to the emissions that they replace when introduced in average European and U.S. grids."}}
+<references>
-* {{t/foot|2008-06-12/MZJ|[http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/ReviewSolGW09.pdf Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security] page 150: "Materials used today include amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium selenide/sulfide."}}
+<ref name="2008-02-28/DK">[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/02/28/466075/-Lifecycle-Costs-of-Photovoltaics Lifecycle Costs of Photovoltaics] "Using data compiled from the original records of twelve PV manufacturers, we quantified the emissions from the life cycle of four major commercial photovoltaic technologies and showed that they are insignificant in comparison to the emissions that they replace when introduced in average European and U.S. grids."</ref>
-* {{t/foot|2013-05-14/RMI|[http://blog.rmi.org/blog_2013_5_14_As_Solar_PV_Efficiency_Climbs_Costs_Likely_To_Drop As Solar PV Efficiency Climbs, Costs Likely To Drop]: a report on recent developments in solar cell technology}}
+<ref name="2008-06-12/MZJ">[http://www.stanford.edu/group/efmh/jacobson/Articles/I/ReviewSolGW09.pdf Review of solutions to global warming, air pollution, and energy security] page 150: "Materials used today include amorphous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, micro-crystalline silicon, cadmium telluride, and copper indium selenide/sulfide."</ref>
-* {{t/foot|2013-06-05/PO|[http://phys.org/news/2013-06-all-solid-sulfur-based-battery-outperforms-lithium-ion.html New all-solid sulfur-based battery outperforms lithium-ion technology]}}
+<ref name="2013-05-14/RMI">[http://blog.rmi.org/blog_2013_5_14_As_Solar_PV_Efficiency_Climbs_Costs_Likely_To_Drop As Solar PV Efficiency Climbs, Costs Likely To Drop]: a report on recent developments in solar cell technology</ref>
-* {{t/foot|BATTUNIV|]http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/recycling_batteries How to Recycle Batteries]}}
+<ref name="2013-06-05/PO">[http://phys.org/news/2013-06-all-solid-sulfur-based-battery-outperforms-lithium-ion.html New all-solid sulfur-based battery outperforms lithium-ion technology]</ref>
-* {{t/foot|KFGCOM|[http://www.keenforgreen.com/recycle/are_lithium_ion_batteries_recyclable Are Lithium Ion Batteries Recyclable?]: "Yes! Lithium Ion Batteries are recyclable."}}
+<ref name=BATTUNIV>[http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/recycling_batteries How to Recycle Batteries]</ref>
-* {{t/foot|LBRCOM|[http://www.lead-battery-recycling.com/lead-battery-recycling.html Lead Battery Recycling] "All the components of the modern lead acid battery are recyclable and from an Industry perspective lead-acid batteries are an environmental success story because in the United States just over 96% is recovered and in most of the G7 nations upwards of 95% is recycled." }}
+<ref name=KFGCOM>[http://www.keenforgreen.com/recycle/are_lithium_ion_batteries_recyclable Are Lithium Ion Batteries Recyclable?]: "Yes! Lithium Ion Batteries are recyclable."</ref>
-* {{t/foot|MADEHOW|[http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Solar-Cell.html How Products are Made: Solar Cell] "The basic component of a solar cell is pure silicon..."}}
+<ref name=LBRCOM>[http://www.lead-battery-recycling.com/lead-battery-recycling.html Lead Battery Recycling] "All the components of the modern lead acid battery are recyclable and from an Industry perspective lead-acid batteries are an environmental success story because in the United States just over 96% is recovered and in most of the G7 nations upwards of 95% is recycled."</ref>
-** [http://www.waste-management-world.com/articles/print/volume-12/issue-4/features/the-lithium-battery-recycling-challenge.html The Lithium Battery Recycling Challenge] goes into some detail about the logistics
+<ref name=MADEHOW>[http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Solar-Cell.html How Products are Made: Solar Cell] "The basic component of a solar cell is pure silicon..."
-** '''2009-08-28''' [http://www.hybridcars.com/birth-industry-recycle-lithium-auto-batteries-26047/ Birth of Industry to Recycle Lithium Auto Batteries] talks about plans to scale up Li-ion recycling in anticipation of increased usage in automobiles
+* [http://www.waste-management-world.com/articles/print/volume-12/issue-4/features/the-lithium-battery-recycling-challenge.html The Lithium Battery Recycling Challenge] goes into some detail about the logistics
-* {{t/foot|MOLYCORP|[http://www.molycorp.com/technology/rare-earth-recycling Rare Earth Recycling] "...most of the rare earths used in applications, such as fluorescent lighting and computer hard drives, can be recovered and reused."}}
+* '''2009-08-28''' [http://www.hybridcars.com/birth-industry-recycle-lithium-auto-batteries-26047/ Birth of Industry to Recycle Lithium Auto Batteries] talks about plans to scale up Li-ion recycling in anticipation of increased usage in automobiles

@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 * Even sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind power require rare-earth minerals (for solar cells, generator magnets, and storage batteries)
 * Mining of rare earth minerals is just as environmentally disastrous as mining of oil and coal, or [[fracking]] of natural gas.
-* Therefore sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar are no more unsustainable than oil, coal, and natural gas.
+* Therefore sustainable energy sources such as wind and solar are no more sustainable than oil, coal, and natural gas.
 ===Flaws===
 Flaws with this argument include the following:
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 . '''The need for rare minerals is overstated, at best.'''
-* The most common type of [[wikipedia:solar cell|solar cell]] is made of silicon, the most common mineral on Earth.
+* The most common type of [[wikipedia:solar cell|solar cell]] is made of silicon, the most common mineral on Earth. {{l/foot|2008-06-12/MZJ}} {{l/foot|MADEHOW}}
-* The most common types of batteries are [[wikipedia:Lead�acid battery|lead-acid]] and [[wikipedia:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion]], neither of which require any particularly rare minerals.
+* The most common types of batteries are [[wikipedia:Lead�acid battery|lead-acid]] and [[wikipedia:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion]], neither of which require any particularly rare minerals and which are also recyclable. {{l/foot|LBRCOM}} {{l/foot|KFGCOM}} {{l/foot|BATTUNIV}}
 * Research on solar cell and rechargeable battery technology is very intense right now, including the search for cheaper materials, and new discoveries happen regularly.
 ** a new sulfur-based rechargeable battery outperforms Li-ion batteries.{{l/foot|2013-06-05/PO}} (Sulfur is even more common than lithium.)
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 . '''Rare earths are recyclable.'''
-''researching this -- although certainly batteries are recyclable (and many areas require a "core deposit" to encourage people to bring large rechargeable batteries in for recycling) and electronic equipment and metals are also highly recyclable.''
+Although supplies have so far been sufficiently plentiful that most rare earths currently do not get recycled, they are definitely recyclable; as supplies become less adequate to meet demand, recycling is therefore likely to increase. {{l/foot|MOLYCORP}}
 . '''The argument presumes that "sustainability" requires ''no consumption.'''''
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 ==Sources==
 * {{t/foot|2008-02-28/DK|[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/02/28/466075/-Lifecycle-Costs-of-Photovoltaics Lifecycle Costs of Photovoltaics] "Using data compiled from the original records of twelve PV manufacturers, we quantified the emissions from the life cycle of four major commercial photovoltaic technologies and showed that they are insignificant in comparison to the emissions that they replace when introduced in average European and U.S. grids."}}
 * {{t/foot|2013-05-14/RMI|[http://blog.rmi.org/blog_2013_5_14_As_Solar_PV_Efficiency_Climbs_Costs_Likely_To_Drop As Solar PV Efficiency Climbs, Costs Likely To Drop]: a report on recent developments in solar cell technology}}
 * {{t/foot|2013-06-05/PO|[http://phys.org/news/2013-06-all-solid-sulfur-based-battery-outperforms-lithium-ion.html New all-solid sulfur-based battery outperforms lithium-ion technology]}}

@@ Line 24: / Line 24: @@
 * The most common type of [[wikipedia:solar cell|solar cell]] is made of silicon, the most common mineral on Earth.
 * The most common types of batteries are [[wikipedia:Lead�acid battery|lead-acid]] and [[wikipedia:Lithium-ion battery|lithium-ion]], neither of which require any particularly rare minerals.
-* Research on solar cell and rechargeable battery technology is very intense right now, including the search for cheaper materials, and new discoveries happen regularly. There are probably more examples, but one recent example is a sulfur-based battery that outperforms Li-ion batteries.{{l/foot|2013-06-05/PO}} (Sulfur is even more common than lithium.)
+* Research on solar cell and rechargeable battery technology is very intense right now, including the search for cheaper materials, and new discoveries happen regularly.
 . '''Rare earths are recyclable.'''
@@ Line 35: / Line 37: @@
 ==Sources==
 * {{t/foot|2008-02-28/DK|[http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/02/28/466075/-Lifecycle-Costs-of-Photovoltaics Lifecycle Costs of Photovoltaics] "Using data compiled from the original records of twelve PV manufacturers, we quantified the emissions from the life cycle of four major commercial photovoltaic technologies and showed that they are insignificant in comparison to the emissions that they replace when introduced in average European and U.S. grids."}}
 * {{t/foot|2013-06-05/PO|[http://phys.org/news/2013-06-all-solid-sulfur-based-battery-outperforms-lithium-ion.html New all-solid sulfur-based battery outperforms lithium-ion technology]}}

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 * When sustainable conversion equipment reaches the end of its life, the minerals it uses can be recycled. (More about this below.)
-. '''Newer solar and battery technologies use more common minerals.'''
+. '''The need for rare minerals is overstated, at best.'''
-Research in this area is very intense right now, including the search for ways of accomplishing conversion with cheaper materials, and new discoveries happen regularly. There are probably more examples, but one recent example is a sulfur-based battery that outperforms Li-ion batteries.{{l/foot|2013-06-05/PO}}
+* The most common type of [[wikipedia:solar cell|solar cell]] is made of silicon, the most common mineral on Earth.
 . '''Rare earths are recyclable.'''

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