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Why has the world started to mine coal again? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by Metal_Zealot@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

293 comments fedilink hide all child comments

With climate change looming, it seems so completely backwards to go back to using it again.

Is it coal miners pushing to keep their jobs? Fear of nuclear power? Is purely politically motivated, or are there genuinely people who believe coal is clean?

Edit, I will admit I was ignorant to the usage of coal nowadays.

Now I'm more depressed than when I posted this

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[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Everything has a cost of course, building solar panel requires a significant amount of precious metals, which may or may not be easily accessible or affordable depending on the political climate between countries who mine vs the countries who needs the resources.

And the production of solar panel does create some toxic leftovers which needs to make handled appropriately. Not saying they're a bad alternative and they're definitely before than fossil fuel or coal, just needs to consider the cost and the impact of everything.

[–] blazera@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

building solar panel requires a significant amount of precious metals

Mmm, no, no they dont. Solar panels are primarily made from silicon. Sand.

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

They also need

Copper
Cobalt
Nickel
Lithium
Chromium
Zinc
Aluminium

and some others rare-earth elements, as well as some platinum-group metals. The current photocell chemistry we use is quite complex.

[–] blazera@kbin.social 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Youve pulled this out your ass https://www.kloecknermetals.com/blog/a-guide-to-metals-for-solar-suppliers/#:~:text=The%20primary%20metals%20used%20in,wiring%20of%20the%20solar%20array.

[–] mp3@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions/mineral-requirements-for-clean-energy-transitions

and even then, solar panels are only one part of the whole system, since the source of energy fluctuates significantly.

[–] blazera@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

Demand for rare earth elements (REEs) – primarily for EV motors and wind turbines

solar panels do not use these metals you are worried about