4 ms·

The graph says it all and by the way similar graphs exist for lithium and all the rare earth elements to construct so called renewables.

• ben_w 4y ago
  We don't need rare earths to make renewables, we choose them because they are cheaper; and calling renewables "so called" in this context is a bit weird even though yes the sun will eventually die.
  • kragen 4y ago
    We mostly don't use rare earths to make renewable energy at all. Solar panels and lithium batteries don't have any rare earths in them. Most wind turbines do: https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC122671/jrc122671_the_role_of_rare_earth_elements_in_wind_energy_and_electric_mobility_2.pdf https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/J... but Amory Lovins argues that the advantage of doing so is small or even nonexistent: https://rmi.org/rmi-reality-check-greener-friendlier-alternatives-exist-for-rare-minerals-in-batteries/ https://rmi.org/rmi-reality-check-greener-friendlier-alterna...
    • Brometheus 4y ago
      The turbines of ENERCON don't need "rare-earths", because of their ring generator https://www.enercon.de/technologie/komponenten/ https://www.enercon.de/technologie/komponenten/
      • kragen 4y ago
        Of course you don't need rare earths to build electrical wind turbines; the Europa paper I linked above explains that even today 25% of wind turbines are rare-earth-free, and people have been building large-scale electrical generators for 156 years even though rare earth magnets were only invented about 50 years ago.