The growing global need for copper, and the amount required to power the transition of all nations to clean energy, is not sustainable.
  • masterspace@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    20 days ago

    You’re wrong in terms of long distance power lines being mostly copper, but this does seem a lot like fossil fuel propaganda.

    Motors, generators, and transformers can be built using aluminium; they’re just a bit bulkier and less efficient. Very common practice.

    What I mean is that the bulk of current copper wiring goes towards distribution and consumption, not generation.

    The big thing is that batteries really should be a last resort, behind demand response (using power when it is available, rather than storing it for later), long distance transmission, and public transport instead of private vehicles.

    This isn’t a big thing. This is a constant thing in every system. It’s the push and pull between efficiency and resiliency. More storage capacity is less efficient when things are going well, but is more resilient and adaptable when they’re not.

    • SomeoneSomewhere@lemmy.nzEnglish
      1·
      20 days ago

      What I mean is that the bulk of current copper wiring goes towards distribution and consumption, not generation.

      Yes, but big batteries everywhere is going to effect that if there’s copper in lithium batteries, and apparently there is.

      This isn’t a big thing. This is a constant thing in every system. It’s the push and pull between efficiency and resiliency. More storage capacity is less efficient when things are going well, but is more resilient and adaptable when they’re not.

      Excess storage capacity, sure.

      But inflating the base battery capacity to cover people having showers at 5pm because it’s easier than storage water heaters and time/remote controls is stupid. You can reduce the base need for batteries by reducing the need for electricity in the first place and reducing the use of vehicles that need to carry batteries in place of e.g. overhead catenary.

      • masterspace@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        20 days ago

        But inflating the base battery capacity to cover people having showers at 5pm because it’s easier than storage water heaters and time/remote controls is stupid. You can reduce the base need for batteries by reducing the need for electricity in the first place and reducing the use of vehicles that need to carry batteries in place of e.g. overhead catenary.

        A solution that doesn’t take into account human nature isn’t a solution.