Is renewable energy “clean energy”?

Is renewable energy “clean energy”?

According to the thinktank Ember, “2022 is likely to mark a “turning point” when global fossil fuel electricity generation peaked and began to fall.” Carbon Brief ran with the story earlier this week with the headline, “Record clean-power growth in 2023 to spark ‘new era’ of fossil fuel decline.”

If this turns out to be the case, then maybe we have indeed reached a turning point in the fight against carbon emissions and climate change. For the first time since the start of the Industrial Revolution, industry and society are beginning to move away from their dependence on fossil fuels for power generation.

The rise of our modern civilization over the last few centuries has been marked by its dependence on its carbon fuel sources, wood, coal, and then oil. Now we are transforming to renewable energy.

But is renewable energy really the “silver bullet” portrayed by some? Is it correct to describe it as “clean energy”?

As Jared Diamond noted in his book Collapse, “new technologies, whether or not they succeed in solving the problems they were designed to solve, regularly create unanticipated new problems (Diamond p. 505).

So, what possible problems can renewable energy present us with?

I will quickly outline five main areas of concern: economic, ethical, cultural, environmental, and geopolitical.

Economic demands for resources

The transformation towards “carbon-free energy” will greatly increase demand for mineral resources, the vast majority of which must be mined. Recycling of existing materials will only contribute a small amount.

Electric vehicles at the present level of technological innovation require six times the quantity of mineral resources than conventional ones. On top of this, about 10% of the world’s population still has no access to electricity, and as living standards in low-income countries rise, we can expect an increase in demand for energy from these two sources.

Unethical mining

In some parts of the world, the mining industry is unregulated but not necessarily illegal, and sometimes controlled by armed groups. In these situations, the use of child and/or forced labor is common, and the majority of workers can be women. In our rush for energy transformation, we risk increasing their exploitation.

Even where mining is regulated, there is often the problem of clean-up once the resource has been exhausted. It is not uncommon for mining companies to declare bankruptcy to avoid clean-up commitments, leaving the bill for local governments and taxpayers (Diamond, pp. 35-41).

The consumer mindset

We consumers also have a responsibility. We demand more goods, more often, and use more energy. However, according to some experts, “as there is a transition to a very high penetration of renewable fuels, there is likely to be much less energy available per capita to support consumption.”

We may have to get used to consuming and using less. This may be an important part of the energy transformation but may not be as austere as it sounds. “Global energy demand in 2050 could be up to 40% lower than today if all energy efficiencies are implemented” (Dixson-Declève et. al, p. 127).

Environmental limits

We need an international agreement on what parts of this planet are off-limits for mining for our renewable resources, otherwise, we run the risk of plundering the planet in order to save it. Some mineral deposits sit in highly sensitive ecological areas, vital for the protection of local or global biodiversity. Others are located in the homelands of indigenous peoples who are often sidelined or exploited by mining companies and governments.

Then we have the specter of deep-sea mining which can potentially impact an area far greater than the initial one. Scientists and conservationists are warning that deep sea mining “could cause “extensive and irreversible” damage to the planet.”

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Geopolitics

A change in energy sources is historically marked by a change in the geopolitical balance. First, we had Britain and coal in the nineteenth century, followed by the United States and oil in the twentieth.

With its reserves of critical raw materials and control over the processing of minerals vital for the energy transformation, we are now seeing a shift towards China. It is not a given that China will dominate in the twenty-first century, but it has definitely had a head start.

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The move towards a carbon-free future is a necessary one if we’re to remain within the 1.5°C limit to avoid the worst effects of climate change. But renewable energy is not the “silver bullet” as presented by some of its champions and politicians.

Referring to renewable energy as “clean energy,” risks masking its negative ecological and societal impacts. Indeed, like coal and oil before it, renewable energy should be recognized for what it truly is: another source of mineral energy.

Yes, sun, wind, tidal, and water are all renewable, but to convert them into usable energy they require minerals. Minerals that for the most part must be mined, and that mining has consequences, both positive and negative.

So, in our quest for a renewable energy future, we should be cautious referring to it as clean energy and seek a balanced perspective. Otherwise, we run the risk of repeating the mistakes of the past.

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References

Diamond, Jared. (2011) Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. Penguin Books Ltd. London

Dixson-Declève, Sandrine, et al. (2022) Earth for All: A Survival Guide for Humanity. New Society Publishers. Gabriola Island

In Profile: Olivia Lazard

I first came across Olivia Lazard and her work a couple of months ago on Nate Hagens podcast “The Great Simplification.” I’ve since watched her TED Talk which I have included below.

Her work combines two fields I’m interested in: sustainability (climate change) and geopolitics. Her work provides a broader, global context to the field of sustainability.

“Olivia Lazard works on the geopolitics of climate-disrupted futures and ecological breakdown. With a background in conflict resolution, and deep field experience in some of the world's most fragile contexts, she now focuses on preventing and mitigating the risks associated to global competition over specific renewable and non-renewable resources.

Simultaneously, she researches the ways in which societies can adapt to climate and ecological disruptions to remain within a safe operating space, a collective security system and within governance structures that support open societies. Her work tackles the decarbonization-regeneration nexus, the core pillar for the future of global security and peace.”

If you would like a broader context to the work you do, I highly recommend following her on LinkedIn.

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What to Read

Carbon Brief: Record clean-power growth in 2023 to spark ‘new era’ of fossil fuel decline

This is the article referred to above in the article above. It explores the possible decline in fossil-fuel electricity generation which it contributes to structural changes in the industry.

The Sustainable Investor: Perspective: Artisanal mining – seeking solutions

Examines a little understood and controversial aspect of mining. The role artisanal mining plays in the supply of critical raw materials used in “green energy.”

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The Guardian: Deep-sea mining for rare metals will destroy ecosystems, say scientists

Sticking with the mining theme, The Guardian article investigates the possible threat posed by deep-sea mining for cobalt and nickel. Scientists and conservationists warn of “extensive and irreversible” damage.

What to listen to

BBC: Uncontacted Indonesian tribe under threat from mining

Mining companies and the Indonesian government are pressing ahead with a nickel mining project, which could threaten habitat of the Hongana Manyawa tribe.

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What to Watch

Olivia Lazard TED Talk: The blind spots of the green energy transition

The world needs clean power, but decarbonization calls for a massive increase in the mining and extraction of minerals like lithium, graphite and cobalt. Environmental peacemaking expert Olivia Lazard sheds light on the scramble for these precious mineral resources -- and how the countries that control their supply chains (including China and Russia) could find themselves at the center of the new global stage. Learn why Lazard thinks planetary security depends on our ability to de-escalate resource competition and avoid the same mistakes that led to the climate crisis.