Copyright Watts Up With That
From NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT By Paul Homewood h/t Philip Bratby Who’d have thought? From the Telegraph: Record-setting copper prices have sparked turmoil for wind and solar farm developers who face rising costs to build green energy projects. Commodity analysts have warned that the cost of manufacturing renewable technologies – which rely heavily on copper – will surge after the industrial metal hit a record high on the London Metal Exchange. The price rose as high as $11,200 (£8,500) a ton on Wednesday, extending its gains so far this year to more than 27pc. It is on track for its best year since 2017. Although prices fell from their peak on Thursday – dipping to $11,183 a ton – they still remain elevated by historical standards. Bjarne Schieldrop, chief commodities analyst at Swedish bank SEB, said: “It will add costs to all [things] connected to electricity and not the least all things connected to renewable energy, power systems, transformers, EVs (electric vehicles).” Liam Fitzpatrick, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, warned that the surging price of copper had raised doubts among bosses about the viability of some future green energy projects. He said many attendees at the bank’s copper conference last month admitted the surging price “does not support the development of major new greenfield projects”. Wind farms, solar panels and electric vehicles all rely heavily on copper cabling to connect to the national grid. Wind farms, for example, use it for vital cables and transformers to transfer power. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/10/31/record-copper-prices-spark-turmoil-for-green-energy-project There will be a thriving trade for copper thieves! Better watch out for your EV charging cable at night! I wonder if Ed will include them in his Green Job numbers?
