tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post1572215895244639056..comments2024-03-06T06:34:42.881-05:00Comments on EconoSpeak: A Different Environmental Threat: Peak Rare Minerals, China, and Green TechnologyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4900303239154048192.post-12932871412201418382009-09-06T09:22:47.282-04:002009-09-06T09:22:47.282-04:00very interesting. Adding to this picture:
Worldwi...very interesting. Adding to this picture:<br /><br />Worldwide, aluminium smelters consume 2% of the world’s electricity. And the world is experiencing a global electricity shortage.<br /><br />Understanding the current energy crisis in South Africa<br />Posted by Doug Low on February 1, 2008 - 9:53am in The Oil Drum: Europe<br />http://europe.theoildrum.com/node/3576<br /><br />and<br />A growing global power crisis looks to be greater economic and political danger than oil. 31st August 2009<br />http://blogs.uncommonwisdomdaily.com/red-hot-energy-and-gold/wednesday-news-roundup-3/<br />http://energytechstocks.com.previewmysite.com/wp/?p=1647&preview=true<br /><br />+<br /><b>Indium</b> – responsible for the higher performance of multiple-junction solar cells. This metal accounts for 0.25 parts per million of the Earth’s crust. LCD screens have driven indium prices to $1,000 per kilogram in recent years. Estimates that did not factor in an explosion in indium-containing solar panels reckon we have only a 10 year supply of it left. If power from the Sun is to become a major source of electricity, solar panels would have to cover huge areas, making an alternative to indium essential. <br /><br /><b>Platinum</b> - So far, fuel cells are still the most effective way to turn the gas into electricity. But these mostly rely on expensive platinum to catalyse the reaction. The trouble is, platinum makes indium appear super-abundant. It is present in the Earth's crust at just 0.003 parts per billion and is priced in $ per gram, not per kilogram. Estimates say that, if the 500 million vehicles in use today were fitted with fuel cells, all the world's platinum would be exhausted within 15 years. <br /><br />Why sustainable power is unsustainable<br />13:02 06 February 2009 by Colin Barras<br />http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16550-why-our-sustainable-energies-are-unsustainable.html<br /><br />Then consider the current critical shortages of water, land for growing food (with biofuels and tree plantations being major contributors to this problem; not just climate change and over-consumption.)Myrtle Blackwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07427043367624101075noreply@blogger.com