Post #4357006
2026-08-03 11:43 UTC
…Ok, this diagram is more flawed, but it attempts to visualise the relationship between fossil fuel and metals extraction and processing, and the mismatch of expectation that overlays that.
Some notes follow…
Replies (1)
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@urlyman@mastodon.social 2026-08-03 11:50
…Modern renewables (not old ones: https://mastodon.social/@urlyman/116786589051840846) require more metals per joule generated than fossil fuels. The metals circle above is orange because processing them requires massive amounts of heat and power. A huge increase in crushing and grinding ores and in sintering, smelting and annealing the resultant materials for renewables will require on-going fossil fuel use. Less than at present because we will do some of that work with renewables power but probably not as much as hoped…