68hx.1808
2024-05-17 02:01:50 UTC
https://techxplore.com/news/2024-05-copper-fast-electrify.html
Report shows copper can't be mined fast enough to electrify the US
Copper cannot be mined quickly enough to keep up with
current U.S. policy guidelines to transition the country's
electricity and vehicle infrastructure to renewable energy,
according to a University of Michigan study.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in 2022, calls
for 100% of cars manufactured to be electric vehicles by
2035. But an electric vehicle requires three to five times
as much copper as an internal combustion engine vehicle—not
to mention the copper required for upgrades to the electric
grid.
"A normal Honda Accord needs about 40 pounds of copper. The
same battery electric Honda Accord needs almost 200 pounds
of copper. Onshore wind turbines require about 10 tons of
copper, and in offshore wind turbines, that amount can more
than double," said Adam Simon, U-M professor of earth and
environmental studies.
"We show in the paper that the amount of copper needed is
essentially impossible for mining companies to produce."
The study examined 120 years of global data from copper
mining companies, and calculated how much copper the U.S.
electricity infrastructure and fleet of cars would need
to upgrade to renewable energy.
. . .
Politicians don't know science and often invent 'math'
designed to suit their political purposes. Almost none
of the electorate knows they're being scammed.
For quite awhile the UK had this wonderful plan to
replace gas heating with electric ... until someone
finally did some math and determined they've have
to at least double the capacity of the power grid -
beyond unaffordable in any sane time-scale.
Report shows copper can't be mined fast enough to electrify the US
Copper cannot be mined quickly enough to keep up with
current U.S. policy guidelines to transition the country's
electricity and vehicle infrastructure to renewable energy,
according to a University of Michigan study.
The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in 2022, calls
for 100% of cars manufactured to be electric vehicles by
2035. But an electric vehicle requires three to five times
as much copper as an internal combustion engine vehicle—not
to mention the copper required for upgrades to the electric
grid.
"A normal Honda Accord needs about 40 pounds of copper. The
same battery electric Honda Accord needs almost 200 pounds
of copper. Onshore wind turbines require about 10 tons of
copper, and in offshore wind turbines, that amount can more
than double," said Adam Simon, U-M professor of earth and
environmental studies.
"We show in the paper that the amount of copper needed is
essentially impossible for mining companies to produce."
The study examined 120 years of global data from copper
mining companies, and calculated how much copper the U.S.
electricity infrastructure and fleet of cars would need
to upgrade to renewable energy.
. . .
Politicians don't know science and often invent 'math'
designed to suit their political purposes. Almost none
of the electorate knows they're being scammed.
For quite awhile the UK had this wonderful plan to
replace gas heating with electric ... until someone
finally did some math and determined they've have
to at least double the capacity of the power grid -
beyond unaffordable in any sane time-scale.
