THE RE ILLUSION: WHY EFFICIENCY AND REAL SUSTAINABILITY MATTER…

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I’m often asked why I am opposed to renewable energy (RE). I’m not! But, it has specific applications with huge environmental impacts. Being energy efficient (EE) – using less with the same output, or, just using less – is much, much better. When additional energy is needed, we should rely on the most effective and sustainable solutions available – whether that’s nuclear, oil, coal, or whatever.

Most presents RE technologies like wind and solar as the ultimate solutions to climate change. However, these have significant limitations and environmental impacts that are rarely discussed. First, wind and solar have inherent efficiency limits: solar panels capture a maximum of ~33% of sunlight energy, while wind turbines capture around 45% of the wind’s energy. Furthermore, RE systems require energy storage due to intermittency – which is extremely costly and resource-intensive. For example, Tesla’s Nevada battery factory (the largest in the world) would take 500 years to produce enough batteries to store a single day of U.S. electricity consumption.

Building RE systems demands massive mining operations for materials like lithium, cobalt, copper and rare earth metals, with extraction impacting ecosystems and often sourced from regions facing socio-political and ethical challenges. A single 100 MW wind turbine requires 30 000 tons of iron ore, 50 000 tons of concrete, and significant amounts of non-recyclable materials. Solar requires 150% more cement and steel. The life span of these systems is relatively short (about 20 years), after which disposal becomes a significant environmental issue. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that by 2050, waste from solar panels alone could be double today’s plastic waste!

In comparison, hydrocarbon-based fuels like oil, gas and coal have well-established infrastructure, lower energy storage costs, and have become increasingly cleaner to use through technological advancements, i.e. HELE coal. Producing an equivalent amount of energy from an oil well versus a wind turbine costs roughly the same, yet the oil well yields far more energy.

Ultimately, while RE has specific and valuable applications, a much more balanced energy strategy, inclusive of hydrocarbons, may be more sustainable and environmentally manageable. Yes, it may impact our pockets and livelihoods – but, is the environment, Scopes 1, 2 &3, not more important?

After all, as energy managers, are we not supposed to apply our minds and then find the most sustainable solutions…

– Facts mentioned are available from the Manhattan Institute and Prager University.

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JJ(KAREL) STEYN

Karel is a seasoned Consultant boasting impressive professional qualifications, including an AEE Certified Energy Manager, an AEE Certified Measurement and Verification Professional, an ECSA Professional Engineering Technologist, a SANAS Assessor and an EPC Quality Assurer. His leadership spans multiple sectors, serving as Chairs of the MVCA, SANAS Specialist Technical Committee and SABS TC 301 for Energy Management Systems. He is a SANEDI panellist, South Africa’s representative in the Cleaner Energy Ministerial, a past President of the SAEEC and serves on the IEPA Board. He was key in establishing the National M&V function and authored two eBooks on the subject. His involvement extends to government, government agencies and Eskom, focusing on energy management, energy performance, efficiency strategies, and decarbonisation efforts, aiming for Carbon Net Zero in industrial sectors and has an interest in technology, innovation, investments and energy management.

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Surviving and Thriving: How ESCOs Can Navigate South Africa’s Energy Landscape

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Building Climate Resilience in Agriculture and Agroprocessing: The Power of the Water-Energy Nexus.

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ENERGY PERFORMANCE CERTIFICATE (EPC) WORKSHOP

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2025 SAEEC TECHNICAL CONFERENCE : WATER EFFICIENCY

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