The ‘transition’ to green energy isn’t reducing carbon emissions
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Despite much hype, the much-vaunted green energy transition away from fossil fuels isn’t happening. Achieving a meaningful shift with current policies turns out to be unaffordably costly.
We need to drastically change policy direction. Globally, we are already spending almost $2 trillion annually on trying to force an energy transition. Over the past decade, solar and wind energy use has increased to their highest-ever levels.
But it hasn’t reduced the use of fossil fuels—over the same time, their consumption has risen. Countless studies show that when societies add more renewable energy, most of it never replaces coal, gas or oil. It simply adds to energy consumption.
Recent research shows that for every six units of new green energy, less than one unit displaces any fossil fuel. Analysis in the United States shows that renewable energy subsidies simply lead to more overall energy being used. In other words, policies meant to boost green energy are leading to more emissions.
None of this should come as a surprise to any student of history. During the transition from wood to coal during the 1800s, overall wood use actually increased even while coal took over a greater proportion of overall energy needs. The same thing happened when we shifted from coal to oil: by 1970, oil, coal, gas and wood all delivered more energy than ever.
Humans have an unquenchable thirst for affordable energy, which is required for every aspect of modern life. In the past half-century, the energy we get from oil and coal has again doubled, hydro power has tripled, and gas has quadrupled—and we have experienced an explosion in the use of nuclear, solar and wind energy. The whole world—and the average person—has
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