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The dirty little secret is that renewables are consumable. They wear out and have to be replaced. Like discount shoes: they're cheap, they don't look good, an
by engineer_22 5y ago
The dirty little secret is that renewables are consumable. They wear out and have to be replaced. Like discount shoes: they're cheap, they don't look good, and you throw them away after a while.
- m0llusk 5y agoThe dirtier non secret is that all the critical parts of a nuclear reactor become radioactive waste. We still have no long term plan for dealing with the radioactive waste that had already been generated.
- trinovantes 5y agoThe heavy metals used in batteries and solar panels are also very toxic [1]. Only reason we don't talk about them is because they can be offshored since they can't be weaponized. [1] https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150402-the-worst-place-on-earth https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20150402-the-worst-place-...
- natmaka 5y agoBatteries: huge recycling projects ( such as https://northvolt.com/ https://northvolt.com/ ) are moving forward and the market is ready: in many industrial nations battery-equipped vehicles and buildings are already recycled, not thrown in a trashcan.
- rhacker 5y agoThe cool thing about solar panels is that they are recyclable like old clothes. People are super super happy buying 5 year old panels for $80 that are rated at 250 watts but are giving someone like 235 now.
- andygates 5y agoInteresting word choice "consumable" versus "parts require maintenance". One suggests a lie, the other is just SOP in any plant with moving parts. Are you sure you're an engineer?
- engineer_22 5y agoDo better Andy. Lying? Come on...