The problem is what to do with windfarms and solar panels after they have reached the end of their useful life.
Here are some ideas of what can be done to recycle windfarm blades.
News item which shows the scale of recycling windfarm blades and solar panels.
The Great Renewable Energy Con explained by Dr Benny Peiser. A discussion. Video from May 2022. I am passing it on in case anyone is interested.
Dr Benny Peiser of the UK-based Global Warming Policy Foundation explains how Europe’s net zero dreams have only led to soaring energy prices and dangerous dependence on Russian gas. He warns against Australia taking the same perilous road by allowing China to exploit our energy insecurity. Learn more about the implications of climate science and policy in Australia.
EDIT.
Here is another video I have just watched, from December 2021. Ian Plimmer speaking to John Roskam.
Professor Ian Plimer is one of Australia’s most strident critics of destructive green activism. In the latest episode of IPA Encounters, Professor Plimer and John Roskam discuss his latest book ‘Green Murder: A Life Sentence of Net Zero with No Parole’.
A geologist by training, Professor Plimer lays out in the simplest terms why climate change science is far from settled, and how while human activity may impact local weather events it has practically no impact on global climate cycles.
He outlines how corrupt funding imperatives are driving bad scientific research, and calls out environmental activists who through their ill-informed activism are causing more harm to human prosperity and habitats across the planet than good.
It's raining so I am starting a new art project. Enjoy your weekend. Toodle pip. ilona
Dr Benny Peiser, a sports anthropologist whose PhD focused on the ancient Olympic games. What a superb education to tackle the issue of climate change.
ReplyDeleteThis is the trouble with “alternative media” - aka spout whatever nonsense you think will make money. As you have said it is all about the money.
The claim that wind and solar are the cheapest sources of electricity are self evidently false, as both require a complete parallel generating infrastructure to cover the frequent lack of output (every night with solar). Why pay twice for the generating capacity when all that you need is cheap and efficient CCGT?
ReplyDeleteIt depends how you define “cheapest” Will. That is the whole point.
DeleteSurely "cheapest" is a simple concept - that which has the lowest overall cost, taking into account all factors. The CFD contract prices for wind may theoretically be lower than gas generator costs, but completely fail to take into account the intermittent nature of their output, necessitating the provision of an entire parallel generating capacity whose cost must be added to the cost of the wind power. So why pay the extra for the wind when you've had to buy the backup generators anyway?
DeleteActually “cheapest” is not a simple concept at all. It depends on which costs you are going to account. For example do you account for the environmental “cost” of disposing of items. Do you account for the “cost” of the green house gas emissions.
DeleteTo say “cheapest” is a simple concept kind of tells me you don’t have much of a finance back ground
Taking those two factors into account make wind even more expensive as an electricity source. Wind turbines are notoriously difficult to recycle compared to the components of a CCGT plant, and the CO2 emissions are actually a negative cost overall as they increase agricultural productivity.
DeleteNope you are wrong here. To talk about wind turbine recycling you need to think about the current technology and not the old stuff.
DeleteThinking about fossil fuel extraction you need to think about the true cost. For example have a look at the Alberta oil sands
Also, wind turbines rely extensively on the refined products of crude oil, try making one without access to the plastics and resins sourced from fossil fuels, and erecting one without fossil fuel powered plant and machinery.
DeleteI appreciate this post and will come back and watch the video. Broken and old gigantic wind turbine blades are close to impossible to recycle and usually require large generators run by gas for when wind is calm. I also read this week that Scotland cut down many trees, was it 18 million, to make way for wind farms. These stories are complex.
ReplyDelete