Just as the atmosphere’s capacity to absorb GHGs without affecting climate is limited, so is the earth’s capacity to supply materials to replace those that are used only once. In a renewable energy context, there are two basic solutions. First, there is no technical reason renewable energy equipment cannot be built to last decades longer than it otherwise might. How can renewable energy markets and policies reward durability and long, low maintenance project and system operation even as major supply chain industries continue to thrive on planned obsolescence? Second, renewable energy material and component recovery and reuse is feasible but not generally either mandatory or economically rewarding. Will publicly financed renewable energy waste recovery be necessary, and which governments will take the lead in making it work fairly and efficiently?
