Clean Energy doesn't run out?

Analyzing the Oil Crises and Uneven Distribution of Fossil Fuels

In the October 1973 war, the Arab countries stopped exporting oil to the United States and Europe, causing a significant increase in the price of oil per barrel, leading to a crisis worldwide. After more than 50 years, a similar situation occurred after the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, when Russia threatened to cut off gas supplies to Europe. The biggest problem regarding fossil fuels is that they are not evenly distributed across the earth, with some countries having massive quantities while others have none. This is in addition to the pollution they cause. The question that arises is: Why are we still using fossil fuels when we have access to clean and renewable energy, which is almost free and available worldwide, such as solar, wind, and water energy?

Fossil Fuels and the Promise of Renewable Energy Sources Like Solar

Fossil fuels have caused many problems for the planet, including significant carbon emissions leading to air pollution. Furthermore, the available quantity of fossil fuels on earth is limited. For example, the American Petroleum Institute states that oil will be depleted between 2062 and 2094, while researchers estimate that gas will last for about 50 years and coal for about 150 years. These estimates are based on the quantity of fuel that can be accessed.

The use of renewable energy is the solution to these problems. Life can be beautiful with abundant sunshine, wind, and water available everywhere. For instance, the sun emits approximately 14,400 watts of energy per square meter of the atmosphere per hour, which is about 100,000 times our current energy needs. However, there are many obstacles to harnessing solar energy with current technology, such as the need to place solar panels in areas with year-round sunshine, which are limited to desert regions. This highlights the uneven distribution of clean energy sources across the world, as not all countries have access to year-round sunshine.

The Infrastructure Challenges of Transitioning to a Global Clean Energy System Powered by Solar and Wind

The challenges in generating and transmitting clean energy this year in some countries primarily rely on solar power. The issue will be limited to specific regions, such as tropical areas and deserts. Even if we focus on wind energy, not all countries have strong winds with consistent directions throughout the year. Assuming we have placed solar panels and wind turbines in tropical regions or deserts, the second issue we will face is how to transmit the energy generated from these regions to the rest of the world.

In this case, we need suitable infrastructure and a new system for electricity transmission. Electricity generated from conventional fossil fuels requires large areas for mining and factories to be established. However, the existing factories and mines mean no additional cost is involved. On the other hand, if we decide to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, we will need to build new infrastructure from scratch. This not only involves significant costs but also requires vast amounts of land. Some estimates suggest that to supply the entire world with electricity from solar cells, we would need to cover around 500,000 square meters of land with solar panels, which is approximately the size of Spain.

If we decide to avoid solar energy and focus on wind energy, we will face the same problem. Although these areas are vast, they are not impossible to utilize. There are plenty of empty spaces worldwide, such as the Sahara Desert in North Africa, which is nine million square kilometers in size, 18 times larger than the required area to provide the world with electricity from solar cells. So, the problem is not only about infrastructure but also about the significant challenge of transmitting energy from remote areas to consumption centers, which are often far away, whether in the desert, forest, or the middle of the ocean. This requires very long power lines to connect them to cities.

The Environmental and Ethical Challenges of Battery Storage for Global Clean Energy Transition

The future for clean energy is unlike renewable energy. For example, if you have a solar cell, as long as the sun is present during the day, the cell will generate electricity for you. However, as soon as the sun sets and night falls, the electricity will stop. That's why solar cells or wind turbines also need to be connected to batteries to store the electricity they generate. Someone might ask, "What's the problem with batteries when the whole world uses them?" Initially, batteries cause serious environmental problems because society currently lacks an efficient way to recycle and reuse them. When a battery reaches the end of its life, it is typically buried in the ground as if we don't see it as a problem. Battery production relies on consuming elements such as cobalt, lithium, and other elements that cause environmental issues during extraction, polluting water, soil, and air. Furthermore, massive emissions of carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide are released during processing and refining. Moreover, companies that produce batteries often employ children as young as five years old, despite all the disasters we have mentioned.

The Technological Limitations of Lithium Batteries in Enabling Widespread Electrification of Transportation

I want to tell you that battery problems have not ended. The best lithium battery available today can store around 2.5 mega joules per kilogram, which is 20 times less energy than what is in a liter of gasoline. To bridge this significant efficiency gap and replace gasoline with lithium, the battery size needs to be much larger than its current size. Here, another problem arises. When the size of a lithium battery increases significantly, it may pose a significant challenge in public transport, such as cars. However, the problem will be much more pronounced in airplanes and ships. Studies suggest that to power an airplane crossing the Atlantic Ocean with electricity, we would need a lithium battery weighing 1000 tons. Of course, this number is staggering and unrealistic. If the plane could even take off with such a massive weight, I doubt it could complete the ocean crossing. 

The Ongoing Challenges of Achieving a Viable Transition to a Global Renewable Energy System

The same applies to ships and maritime transport, all facing challenges in using clean energy. We often hear beautiful and shiny slogans about clean energy, but the real question is whether these slogans can be applied in reality. All research centers and scientific communities are not idle and are trying to address the problems we have discussed. Unfortunately, until now, they have not reached a solution that allows us to transition to renewable energy efficiently. We are taking it step by step, hoping that one day we will solve this complex equation. But for now, that's it. Who has made it this far, you are the bravest people. Give us a like before you leave so we know how many have reached the end. And don't forget, if you have any questions that bother you in the middle of the night, write them in the comments below the video so we can answer them. Goodbye.