ENERGY MYTHS
One of the most important technological changes needed to combat human-induced climate change is the transition of the energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy and energy efficiency. This system can be ecologically sustainable, healthier, more socially just, and more peaceful. However, the transition is being impeded by the capture of nation-states and some international organisations by vested interests, including the fossil fuel and nuclear energy industries. An important tool used by these vested interests is the dissemination of myths about renewable energy and energy efficiency. Here are the principal myths and my brief refutations of them, based on science and electric power engineering. More detailed refutations are in my publications. (Detailed scientific refutations of myths about climate change are given by others at https://skepticalscience.com/.)
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Myth 1: Renewable energy is too expensive.
Refutation: Solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind are already the cheapest electricity generation technologies in almost all countries that have the resources, even before the costs of environmental impacts of fossil fuels are taken into account.
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Myth 2: Electricity systems with 100% renewables are impossible, unless they have the major generation from hydro.
Refutation: In Scotland and two northern German states, renewables generate at least 100% net of their electricity consumption from renewables. Denmark and South Australia, both over 70% renewables in 2023, are on track to 100% before 2030. All have little or no hydro.
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Myth 3: Wind and solar occupy vast areas of land and so compete with food production.
Refutation: Wind farms occupy tiny fractions of the land they span, typically 2–3%, and are compatible with essentially all forms of agriculture. Rooftop solar occupies no land; solar farms are increasingly being built sufficiently high above ground for sheep farming and horticulture to continue.
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Myth 4: All electricity systems require the major generation from baseload power stations – i.e. stations that generate 24/7 at maximum power for most of the year – such as coal, nuclear or big hydro.
Refutation: Baseload power stations are unnecessary and, apart from big hydro, are too inflexible in operation to be good partners with variable renewables such as solar and wind; furthermore, the major generation in Scotland, Denmark and South Australia already comes from variable renewables.
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Myth 5: To be reliable, all electricity systems require at least some baseload generation.
Refutation: Electricity systems comprising 100% renewables ‘firmed’ with storage are just as reliable as systems containing baseload power stations. South Australia’s sole baseload (initially) power station has not operated as baseload for several years; it will be closed in 2025 and not replaced with a baseload power station.
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Myth 6: Without baseload power stations, it will be impossible to control the frequency and voltage of alternating current in an electricity grid.
Refutation: The following technologies are commercially available to maintain frequency and voltage in grids with 50–100% variable renewables: synchronous condensers and grid-following inverters together with batteries.
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Myth 7: Renewable electricity technologies need more energy to be invested in building them than they generate over their lifetimes.
Refutation: Depending upon site, a large wind turbine generates the energy required to build itself in 3–9 months; a solar PV module in 1–2 years; both have lifetimes of at least 25 years.
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Myth 8: Renewable energy technologies will always need fossil fuels for mining the raw materials, minerals processing and manufacturing.
Refutation: Electricity generation for mining and minerals processing is increasingly being transitioned to renewables, which are much cheaper than diesel in most mining locations. The next step, just beginning, is to transition heavy vehicles at mine sites from diesel to EVs.
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