Tag Archives: recycling

Lithium, an essential net-zero metal for batteries

Posted on July 29, 2022 by energyskeptic

Preface. Lithium is essential for transportation because it is the third lightest element and has the highest energy potential, yet ever larger amounts are going to energy storage batteries. Barnhart (2013) found that the only utility-scale battery for which there … Continue reading →

Posted in Metals | Tagged electric vehicles, lithium production, lithium supply, mining lithium, net-zero metal, peak lithium, recycling | 1 Comment

Why rare and valuable metals are not recycled

Posted on February 18, 2021 by energyskeptic

Preface. This is a post about why rare and critical metals aren’t recycled at all or at best, just a small percent. Basically it is still cheaper to mine them from scratch than to try to separate them out from … Continue reading →

Posted in Recycling | Tagged downcycling, limits to growth, material limits, rare earth metal, recycle, recycling, solar CSP, solar PV, windmill | 5 Comments

Vaclav Smil. Making the modern world: materials and dematerialization

Posted on January 30, 2019 by energyskeptic

Preface. I can’t believe I read this book, it is just a long litany of the gigantic amounts of materials we exploit, with no analysis, implications, or the meaning of what impact this will have on the planet. I certainly … Continue reading →

Posted in Infrastructure Books, Life Before Oil, Limits To Growth, Peak Resources, Vaclav Smil | Tagged materials, recycling, vaclav smil | 9 Comments

Germany’s wind energy mess: As subsidies expire, thousands Of turbines to close

Posted on November 16, 2018 by energyskeptic

Preface. This means that the talk about renewables being so much cheaper than anything else isn’t necessarily true. If wind were profitable, more turbines would be built to replace the old ones without subsidies needed. Unless they can be dumped … Continue reading →

Posted in Electric Grid & EMP Electromagnetic Pulse, Energy Infrastructure, Wind | Tagged Energiewende, germany, recycling, subsidies, wind | 8 Comments

Gail Tverberg: 8 pitfalls in evaluating green energy solutions

Posted on November 20, 2014 by energyskeptic

Eight Pitfalls in Evaluating Green Energy Solutions November 18, 2014 by Gail Tverberg Does the recent climate accord between US and China mean that many countries will now forge ahead with renewables and other green solutions? I think that there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Energy, Gail Tverberg | Tagged alternative energy, blackouts, deforestation, electric grid, extinction, rare minerals, recycling, renewables, topsoil, water depletion | Comments Off