Comments on: Renewable Energy Needs Copper (And Steel And Aluminium)

By: Ronald Brakels

Ronald Brakels — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 19:19:00 +0000

Over its lifetime a mediocre rooftop solar system will produce about 400 kilowatt-hours per kilogram of system weight. Coal produces about 2 kilowatt-hours per kilogram. The infrastructure required to mine and transport coal is massive and solar continues to improve in efficiency while coal decreases as the best deposits are used up. It is quite clear which electricity source requires the least resources.

By: Gerald Katz

Gerald Katz — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:12:00 +0000

Steel, aluminum and copper have a very high rate of recycling. If the large coal plants are closed down and the grid downsized fue yo less demand snd more distributed energy. A lit of metal should be available.

By: JamesWimberley

JamesWimberley — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:39:00 +0000

I suggest the quantity of copper needed depends basically on the level of demand for electricity, irrespective of the generation method. Wind many be a bit higher than the mean because it’s dispersed, solar a bit lower because much of it will be sited above the point of consumption.
For steel, a proper analysis needs to consider the reduction in use in vehicles. We will be replacing steel engines and gearboxes with plastic or aluminium-cased battery packs.

The wind industry needs innovation in tower construction to lower its steel use : wood, concrete … But remember that steel is nearly 100% recyclable.

By: Uwe Trenkner

Uwe Trenkner — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:29:00 +0000

Let’s hope Turquoise Hill Resources and other copper miners learn from Chile’s Codelco: They just opened the world’s largest solar heating plant. 39 000 m2 or 420 000 square foot of collectors will supply over 50 GWh of heat every year, displacing 85% of the diesel used so far. Here is a short case study of the amazing installation: http://www.renewablesandmining.com/ wp-content/ uploads/ 2013/ 07/ REM-codelco-case-study.pdf

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 05:13:00 +0000

Steel is processed in electric smelters. I don’t think they care where the electricity is generated.

Some coal (coke) is needed in the steel purification process.

I wouldn’t be surprised if these calculations overlook the fact that we will have to replace our existing thermal plants with something. The average lifespan for a US coal plant is 39 years and a lot of our plants are now older than 30 years. Our nuclear reactors are also getting old. We can push them for a while, but not forever. Something new has to replace them.

I’d like to see a study that clearly calculates the cost and material needs for renewables that includes the avoided cost and material needs for the materials we’d otherwise incur simply replacing worn out plants.

By: Adam Grant

Adam Grant — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 04:58:00 +0000

This begs the question, how much steel is used in a natural gas or coal burning plant, with all its supporting infrastructure including mining equipment, railways, bunkers, boilers, turbines, etc? Is it more or less than in a solar or wind farm that produces the same amount of energy per year?

I’m also curious whether it would be possible to smelt steel using concentrated sunlight. It would be nice to be able to replace coal in this application.

By: Omega Centauri

Omega Centauri — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 02:13:00 +0000

“a 5 to 18% annual increase”
I hope this is simply poor use of the language. If I take it literally, that would mean an increase of over seventeen times (8% more each year than the previous year compounding).

In any case, assuming we are still deploying todays technology in 2050 (or even in 2025) is pretty pessimistic. Designs, including the materials used will change with the times. There is at least one company designing wood wind turbine towers -the tower is the big user of steel for WTs).

By: Guest

Guest — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 23:31:00 +0000

Of course if we still with coal we will need cooper, steel, alu

By: Aaron Matteson

Aaron Matteson — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:21:00 +0000

is sure there are many ways to find renewable energy if researching Tesla, cheaper and feasible.