The Renewable Dilemma

The "renewable dilemma" refers to the challenges that arise when trying to transition to renewable energy sources while still meeting the energy demands of society. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power have significant benefits over traditional fossil fuels, such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions and improved air quality. However, there are also several challenges associated with the widespread adoption of renewable energy.

One challenge is the intermittency of some renewable energy sources. For example, solar power is only available during daylight hours, and wind power is dependent on weather conditions. This can create challenges for energy grid management and require the use of energy storage systems or backup power sources to ensure a consistent supply of energy.

The demand for minerals alone would require extensive drilling, mining, and habitat degradation that would need the assistant of fossil fuels for industry collection,  processing,  and transportation. The majority of Earths precious metals are abundant in third world countries near the equator. Large corporations with access to technological and financial  and power come from the Global North. This would further perpetuate the inequity  between the Global North and Global South, potentially threatening national security. 

Another challenge is the upfront cost of investing in renewable energy infrastructure. While renewable energy sources may ultimately be more cost-effective in the long run, the initial investment required to build new infrastructure can be a barrier to adoption.

The renewable dilemma also involves the need for technological advancements to improve the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy sources. In addition, there are often political and regulatory challenges associated with transitioning to renewable energy, such as resistance from fossil fuel companies and opposition from communities who may be impacted by new infrastructure projects.

The technological capacity is severely limited. The timeframe which humanity has to prevent irreversible  and catastrophic damage is 6 years. And yet renewable energy is still 30 years behind. Society can not successfully make the transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy because the resource is not sustainable to the global economy.