Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

puzzleheadedmaroon-5 t1_iwnizw1 wrote

Reply to comment by purple_hamster66 in A typical thought process by Kaarssteun

$1 trillion of solar panels wouldn't make a dent in the world's energy needs. How about $1 quadrillion? And where would you get the minerals to make them? Dig them out of the ground using fossil fuels?

We do know how to do nuclear fission. Fusion isn't necessary.

1

purple_hamster66 t1_iwradue wrote

True, we’d need more solar than $1T, but solar does NOT have to include minerals at all. For decades, homes have been producing hot water via rooftop pipes, and heating homes but capturing passive sunlight on stone facades and floors. There are also solar paints that include no minerals but are painted on rooftops… these are not high efficiency but are really really cheap.

1

puzzleheadedmaroon-5 t1_ixslb7c wrote

>rooftop pipes.... stone facades and floors....solar paints

Those are all made of minerals, except possibly rooftop pipes, which can be made out of plastic.

"Mineral: a solid inorganic substance of natural occurrence." - OED

1

purple_hamster66 t1_iy028dy wrote

People are mostly concerned about mining when it comes to REMs (Rare Earth Minerals), not just minerals in general. Many commonplace minerals are not mined but found near the surface or in water. And it’s not just the destructive polluting nature of the mines but also the danger to miners. (For more expensive minerals, I’m guessing the danger will be minimized by using robot miners within a decade).

IMHO, the amount of REMs in solar panels is tiny compared to the amounts used for electronics, power systems, and manufacturing in general. This could be checked.

1