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Archive:000/Decarbonize the energy supply: Difference between revisions
Archive:000/Decarbonize the energy supply (view source)
Revision as of 23:45, 8 September 2024
, 8 September 2024→Ongoing challenges
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==Ongoing challenges== | ==Ongoing challenges== | ||
===The renewables approach {{light|(+ energy storage)}}=== | ===The renewables approach {{light|(+ energy storage)}}=== | ||
* [[Solar]] & [[wind power]] would have to be the main sources, because [[?|other renewables are limited to very specific geographic regions]]. | * [[Solar]] & [[wind power]] would have to be the main sources{{x|in most parts of the world}}, because [[?|other renewables are limited to very specific geographic regions]]. | ||
* Most solar panels today would probably be '''unsustainable''' or even impossible to scale up, due to having [[?|too many scarce minerals in them]]. | * [[?|Most solar panels today]] would probably be '''unsustainable''' or even impossible to scale up, due to having [[?|too many scarce minerals in them]]. | ||
** ''See discussion on'' [[?|alternatives to this]]. | ** ''See discussion on'' [[?|alternatives to this]]. | ||
* Batteries [[?|''might'' be scalable enough]] to smooth out the '''day/night''' cycle of solar. {{x|Best bet would be either [[sodium-ion]] or [[iron redox flow batteries]].}} | * Batteries [[?|''might'' be scalable enough]] to smooth out the '''day/night''' cycle of solar. {{x|Best bet would be either [[sodium-ion]] or [[iron redox flow batteries]].}} | ||
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===Vehicles {{light|- possible options}}=== | ===Vehicles {{light|- possible options}}=== | ||
====Battery-based electric vehicles (EVs)==== | ====Battery-based electric vehicles (EVs)==== | ||
* Most EVs today use [[?|lithium-ion batteries (NMC type)]]. Scaling these up is [[?|'''unsustainable''' due to the amount of '''cobalt''' in them]]. | * Most EVs today use [[?|lithium-ion batteries (NMC type)]]. Scaling these up is [[?|'''unsustainable''' due to the amount of '''cobalt''' in them]]. {{talk|Need to mention 3 issues about cobalt: Child labor, scarcity, and the possibility of mining the ocean floor (since conventional mining wouldn't be able to produce enough to make all cars electric). All this would be even worse if cobalt isn't fully recovered in EV battery recycling.}} | ||
** Best alternatives [[?|so far]] hold less of a charge (i.e. the vehicle gets less {{p2|range|"Range" refers to the distance the vehicle can travel after 1 full charge.}}). {{talk|TODO: Add to this page a simple comparison between NMC, LFP and sodium-ion, in terms of typical expected EV range.}} | ** Best alternatives ([[?|so far]]) hold somewhat less of a charge (i.e. the vehicle gets less {{p2|range|"Range" refers to the distance the vehicle can travel after 1 full charge.}}). {{talk|TODO: Add to this page a simple comparison between NMC, LFP and sodium-ion, in terms of typical expected EV range.}} | ||
*** [[?|LFP batteries]] are cobalt-free but still lithium-based. Lithium scarcity [[?|would be somewhat a problem]] but not as bad as cobalt | *** [[?|LFP batteries]] are cobalt-free but still lithium-based. Lithium scarcity [[?|would be somewhat a problem]] but not as bad as cobalt. | ||
*** [[?|Sodium-ion batteries]] are made from abundant materials - they don't have any mineral-scarcity problem ([[?|probably]]). But they hold even less of a charge than LFP. | *** [[?|Sodium-ion batteries]] are made from abundant materials - they don't have any mineral-scarcity problem ([[?|probably]]). But they hold even less of a charge than LFP. | ||
**** Sodium-ion batteries are [[?|quite new to the market]] (in 2024), and the hope is that they'll become a lot cheaper than existing batteries. That way, [[?|EVs could be cheap and durable]], with the only tradeoff being the lack of range.{{qn}} Probably still good enough for city/suburban living. | **** Sodium-ion batteries are [[?|quite new to the market]] (in 2024), and the hope is that they'll become a lot cheaper than existing batteries. That way, [[?|EVs could be cheap and durable]], with the only tradeoff being the lack of range.{{qn}} Probably still good enough for city/suburban living. | ||
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====Hydrogen-powered vehicles==== | ====Hydrogen-powered vehicles==== | ||
* [[?|Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles]] would be unsustainable to scale up, because of the [[?|amount of platinum & palladium in the fuel cells]]. {{talk|This page needs to mention: Hydrogen ''production'' also requires these same metals but it [[?|can be done with much less of them]] and thus could probably be done sustainably.}} | * [[?|Hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles]] would be unsustainable to scale up, because of the [[?|amount of platinum & palladium in the fuel cells]]. {{talk|This page needs to mention: Hydrogen ''production'' also requires these same metals but it [[?|can be done with much less of them]] and thus could probably be done sustainably.}} | ||
* [[?|Hydrogen combustion vehicles]] don't have this problem, but their fuel-efficiency is lower.{{qn}} {{talk|How bad would this be an issue if renewables or nuclear were to be the main energy sources?}} {{talk|Discussion needed: How much hydrogen would have to be stored at any given time, | * [[?|Hydrogen combustion vehicles]] don't have this problem, but their fuel-efficiency is lower.{{qn}} {{talk|How bad would this be an issue if renewables or nuclear were to be the main energy sources?}} {{talk|Discussion needed: Estimate: How much hydrogen would have to be stored (stocked) at any given time, for the supply chain to work (let's say if it's all produced through nuclear power)? Probably a lot less than what it would take to smooth out the seasonality of renewables - I need to write a page explaining why.}} | ||
====Ammonia-powered vehicles==== | ====Ammonia-powered vehicles==== | ||