Careful consideration doesn’t work around thermodynamical limits very much, I’m afraid. When we move forward, we do not energy transition but rather add new atop the old: we never stopped burning classical biomass, coal or natural gas. Renewable energy is just a new thin layer on top. Depletion of mineral resources necessary for renewable infrastructure buildout and maintenance indeed does a number on the overall economics and energetics, but unfortunately in the wrong drection.
I tend to be more optimistic than that. If you take the view that there won’t be a shift from fossil and chemical processes that are destroying our environment then there is most likely no future for our kids. Either we find a way or billions will die. I’m heartened that we have alternative processes for steel, concrete and fertiliser as well as new battery technology but when evil swans like AI and satellite mega constellations appear, it is a downer.
Careful consideration doesn’t work around thermodynamical limits very much, I’m afraid. When we move forward, we do not energy transition but rather add new atop the old: we never stopped burning classical biomass, coal or natural gas. Renewable energy is just a new thin layer on top. Depletion of mineral resources necessary for renewable infrastructure buildout and maintenance indeed does a number on the overall economics and energetics, but unfortunately in the wrong drection.
I tend to be more optimistic than that. If you take the view that there won’t be a shift from fossil and chemical processes that are destroying our environment then there is most likely no future for our kids. Either we find a way or billions will die. I’m heartened that we have alternative processes for steel, concrete and fertiliser as well as new battery technology but when evil swans like AI and satellite mega constellations appear, it is a downer.