The green energy transition: systemic contradictions and hidden costs

THE RELEVANCE of this article lies in its timely and critical reassessment of the "green" energy trend. It serves as a "sober voice," advocating for a balanced evaluation, comprehensive risk assessment, and a shift from ideological approaches to scientificallygrounded, holistic analysis aimed at achieving genuine sustainability. This makes it a valuable contribution not only to academic discourse but also to the development of practical government policies and corporate strategies.
THE PURPOSE. This paper conducts a comprehensive critical analysis of the modern trends, technological solutions, and systemic challenges within the green energy sector and decarbonization efforts. It aims to evaluate their actual effectiveness, economic viability, and full lifecycle environmental impacts, moving beyond the prevailing optimistic narratives to provide a balanced assessment.
METHODS. The research employs a systematic review and comparative analysis of a wide range of scientific studies and technological case studies. The methodology critically examines wind, solar, and hydrogen energy, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, hybrid systems, and various energy storage solutions. The assessment incorporates key technological, economic, and environmental metrics, including energy return on investment (EROI), levelized cost of energy (LCOE), capital and operational expenditures (CAPEX/OPEX), and carbon footprint across the entire value chain.
RESULTS. The study identifies significant contradictions and systemic challenges in the transition to renewables. It demonstrates that many promoted solutions, such as hydrogen economy and CCUS, remain at early development stages, characterized by high costs, low EROI, and unresolved end-of-life waste management issues for wind turbine blades, solar panels, and batteries. The analysis confirms the non-viability of renewable energy sources in regions with low natural potential without substantial government subsidies. Furthermore, the mass integration of inverter-based generation reduces the overall system inertia, creating substantial risks for grid stability and reliability. The research also highlights severe environmental and social costs associated with the extraction of critical materials like lithium and cobalt, revealing a hidden negative footprint of the green energy supply chain.
CONCLUSIONS. The study concludes that the declared benefits of the green energy transition are often offset by a complex array of hidden technological, economic, and environmental problems. The radical transformation of energy systems is not an unequivocally positive process and presents multifaceted challenges. It necessitates a balanced approach, deep systemic analysis, and the development of comprehensive strategies involving the state, business, and scientific community, rather than merely following trends. A critical revision of current assessment methodologies is required to fully account for the entire lifecycle of green technologies and their true systemic costs.

1. Bardin A., Sigachev M. The green discourse as a type of new left populism Populism // World Economy and International Relations. 2020; 64(11): 96-105. (In Russ. DOI: 10.20542/0131-2227-2020-64-11-96-105.

2. How Environmental Terrorism in Europe Turned into Business. Available at: https://clck.ru/3A8uJn. Accessed: 19 Jun 2025. (In Russ).

3. Kochergina IN, Kochergin NV. Perspektivy ispol'zovaniya «zelenyh» tekhnologij v metallurgii [Prospects for the use of «green» technologies in metallurgy]. In: Materialy devyatnadcatoj Vserossijskoj nauchno-prakticheskoj konferencii s mezhdunarodnym uchastiem «Sovremennye problemy gornometallurgicheskogo kompleksa. nauka i proizvodstvo». Staryj Oskol: Izd-vo Starooskol'skogo tekhnologicheskogo instituta im. A.A. Ugrova; 2023. Pp.33-38. (In Russ). DOI:10.30724/1998-9903-2022-24-6-72-82.

4. Filimonova A.A., Vlasova A.Yu., Kamalieva R.F. Generating electricity in a solid oxide fuel cell decarbonization methods. Power engineering: research, equipment, technology. 2022; 24(6): 72-82. (In Russ). doi:10.30724/1998-9903-2022-24-6-72-82

5. Dikovenko A.G. Сurrent areas in decarbonization of the oil and gas industry. Naukosfera. 2024; (3-1): 171-174. (In Russ). DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10829617.

6. Novoselova M.S. Prospects for the Use of Syngas in Gas Turbine Installations / Novoselova M.S., Mingaleeva G.R., Mar’in G.E., Titov A.V. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2024 — Vol. 26, No. 1. — Pp. 131-143. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2024-26-1-131-143.

7. Nabiullina M.F. The Use of Plant Waste to Ensure the Functioning of Agricultural Energy Complexes / Nabiullina M.F., Mingaleeva G.R., Afanasyeva O.V., Timofeeva S.S. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2024 — Vol. 26, No. 3. — Pp. 120-131. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2024-26-3-120-131.

8. Mazanov S.V. Biodiesel Fuel. Part I. Methods of Production / Mazanov S.V., Gumerov F.M., Usmanov R.A., Gabitova A.R., Zaripov Z.I., Varfolomeev S.D., Vo’lyeva V.B., Shapovalov Yu.A. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2022 — Vol. 24, No. 4. — Pp. 16-49.DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2022-24-4-16-49.

9. Makeeva E.N. Conversion of Boiler Houses to Alternative Fuel / Makeeva E.N., Zvereva E.R., Morozova O.Yu. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2024 — Vol. 26, No. 1. — Pp. 107-117. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2024-26-1-107-117.

10. Melnik A. Transformation of Innovation Development Management to Address Decarbonization Challenges and Energy Efficiency Growth / Melnik A., Naumova I., Ermolaev K. // Foresight, 2023 — Vol. 17, No. 1. — Pp. 51-66. DOI: 10.17323/2500-2597.2023.1.51.66.

11. Pletnev M.A. Socio-Economic Problems of Hydrogen Energy Development / Pletnev M.A., Kopysov A.N. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2021 — Vol. 23, No. 2. — Pp. 36-45. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2021-23-2-36-45.

12. Yanush O.B. Political Dilemmas of Hydrogen Energy / Yanush O.B. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2021 — Vol. 23, No. 2. — Pp. 173-180.

13. Yarullin R.S. Prospects of Hydrogen Technologies in Power and Chemical Industries / Yarullin R.S., Salikhov I.Z., Cherezov D.S., Nurislamova A.R. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2021 — Vol. 23, No. 2. — Pp. 70-83. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2021-23-2-70-83.

14. Solovieva Z.A. Energy Transition in Tunisia: Reality and Plans / Solovieva Z.A. // Eastern Analytics, 2024 — Vol. 15, No. 1. — Pp. 115-126. DOI: 10.31696/2227-5568-2024-01-115-126.

15. Grigoryan G.V. Features of Indonesia’s Energy Transition Policy: The Role of Foreign Business in Achieving Decarbonization Goals / Grigoryan G.V. // Analysis and Forecast. IMEMO RAS Journal, 2024 — No. 2. — Pp. 57-71. DOI: 10.20542/afij-2024-2-57-71.

16. Allakuliev M.M. Economic Features of Oil and Gas Resources in the Context of Transition to Green Energy / Allakuliev M.M., Geldieva M., Myradova S. // Academic Publicism, 2024 — No. 2-2. — Pp. 50-53.

17. Gas & Low Carbon Energy [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uLL (accessed on 19.06.2025).

18. Renewables and energy solutions [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3DekpU (accessed on 19.06.2025).

19. Floating wind [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3Dekya (accessed on 19.06.2025).

20. Matthias J. Pickl The renewable energy strategies of oil majors – From oil to energy? / Matthias J. Pickl // 2019 Energy Strategy Reviews, 2019 — Vol. 26. — P.50-58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2019.100370.

21. Saryev K.A. Determination of Wind Energy Resources in Turkmenistan / Saryev K.A. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2020 — Vol. 24, No. 6. — Pp. 143-154. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2020-22-6-143-154.

22. Bekirov E.A. Methods for Calculating Electric Energy Generation by Wind Turbines and the Influence of Wind Speed on Them / Bekirov E.A., Voskresenskaya S.N., Ramazanova Z.U., Bekirov O.S. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2023 — Vol. 25, No. 5. — Pp. 30-41. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2023-25-5-30-41.

23. Nasyrova E.V. Analysis of Wind Monitoring Data in the Republic of Tatarstan / Nasyrova E.V., Timerbayev N.F., Leukhina O.V., Mazarov I.Yu. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2019 — Vol. 21, No. 6. — Pp. 39-50. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2019-21-6-39-50.

24. Rusina A.G. Ensemble Model for Wind Power Plant Generation Forecasting / Rusina A.G., Tuvshin Osgonbaatar, Matrenin P.V., Sergeev N.N. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2024 — Vol. 26, No. 1. — Pp. 64-76. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2024-26-1-64-76.

25. Bezhan A.V. Reducing the Cost of Thermal Energy through the Use of Wind Turbines in Conjunction with Boiler Houses for Heat Supply in Remote Areas of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation (Case Study of the Murmansk Region) / Bezhan A.V., Zvanoreva Yu.N., Ponomarev R.A. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2023 — Vol. 25, No. 3. — Pp. 128-138. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2023-25-3-128-138.

26. Sheryazov S.K. Main Types of Wind Turbine Generators in Power Supply Systems / Sheryazov S.K., Isenov S.S., Iskakov R.M., Kaidar A.B. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2021 — Vol. 23, No. 5. — Pp. 24-33. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2021-23-5-24-33.

27. Davydov D.Yu. Model for Assessing Technical and Economic Indicators of Offshore Wind Power Plants / Davydov D.Yu., Obukhov S.G. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2021 — Vol. 23, No. 5. — Pp. 115-130. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2021-23-5-115-130.

28. Research project targets mass recycling of turbine blades [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uMa (accessed on 19.06.2025).

29. Retired Wind Turbine Blades Live on as Park Benches and Picnic Tables [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uP3 (accessed on 19.06.2025).

30. Denisov I.E. Assessment of Negative Environmental Impact of Wind Turbine Blade Disposal / Denisov I.E. // Ecology and Environmental Management: Sustainable Development of Rural Territories: Collection of Articles Based on the Materials of the III All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference (2023, Krasnodar, Russia) — KubSAU Publishing House, 2023 — Pp. 416-419.

31. Wind Energy and Wildlife: The Three C’s. American Wind Energy Association [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uQq (accessed on 19.06.2025).

32. Shevtsov A.S. Prospects of Renewable Energy in Russia / Shevtsov A.S., Provornaya I.V. // Interexpo Geo-Siberia, 2022 — Vol. 2, No. 4. — Pp. 106-112.

33. Deniz D.S. Institutional Derivatives and Mechanisms of Support for Renewable Energy: BRICS Countries / Deniz D.S. // Economic Relations, 2022 — Vol. 12, No. 2. — Pp. 249-264. DOI: 10.18334/eo.12.2.114734

34. Solar Energy Outlook 2023 [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uSr (accessed on 19.06.2025).

35. Mathur D. End-of-life Management of Solar PV Panels / Mathur D., Gregory R., Simmons T., // 2020 International Renewable Energy Agency, 2020 — Vol. 1. — P.1-104.

36. Bykovskiy A.E. Development of Solar Energy in Russia / Bykovskiy A.E. // Topical Issues of Modern Science and Education: Collection of Articles of the XXXV International Scientific and Practical Conference (2024, Penza, Russia) — Science and Enlightenment Publishing House, 2024 — Pp. 63-66.

37. Nikolaev Y.E. Evaluation of the Efficiency of Energy Complexes with Hydrogen, Oxygen, Heat and Electricity Production / Nikolaev Y.E., Aidarov M.A. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2024 — Vol. 26, No. 2. — Pp. 114-127. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2024-26-2-114-127.

38. Ghemechu B.D. Assessment of Energy Efficiency of a Hybrid Solar-Geothermal Power Plant / Ghemechu B.D., Sharapov V.I. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2019 — Vol. 21, No. 4. — Pp. 3-11. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2019-21-4-3-11.

39. Suslov K.V. Use of Renewable Energy Sources for Powering Oil Pipeline’s Internal Needs / Suslov K.V., Shushpanov I.N., Vorontsov D.V. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2018 — Vol. 20, No. 1-2. — Pp. 3-11. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2018-20-1-2 -70-79.

40. Лукутин Б.В. Оптимизация энергетических балансов фотоэлектрической станции с электрохимическим и тепловым аккумулированием солнечной энергии / Лукутин Б.В., Аль-Мажди Каррар Хамид // 2022. Известия высших учебных заведений. Проблемы энергетики, 2022 — т.24, №2. — С.3-13. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2022-24-2-3-13.

41. Zatsarinnaya Yu.N. Forecasting of Electric Energy Generation from Renewable Energy Sources Using Machine Learning Methods / Zatsarinnaya Yu.N., Reutin G.V., Kurilov S.S., Isaeva O.V., Kovalev G.S. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2023 — Vol. 25, No. 3. — Pp. 81-92. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2023-25-3-81-92.

42. Building resilient solar projects: Tips and best practices [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3Mex5D (accessed on 19.06.2025).

43. Solar Panels Are Starting to Die, Leaving Behind Toxic Trash [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uVB (accessed on 19.06.2025).

44. Solovova Yu.V. Energy and Social Efficiency in the Context of Modern Economy Functioning / Solovova Yu.V. // Discussion, 2022 — No. 3. — Pp. 48-56. DOI: 10.46320/2077-7639-2022-3-112-48-56.

45. Mukhametova L.R. Innovations in Energy Storage / Mukhametova L.R., Akhmetova I.G., Striełkowski W. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2019 — Vol. 21, No. 4. — Pp. 33-40. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2019-21-4-33-40.

46. Smolentsev N.I. Superconducting Electrokinetic Energy Storage for Local Electrical Networks / Smolentsev N.I., Kondrin N.A. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2017 — Vol. 19, No. 3-4. — Pp. 53-60.

47. Chetoshnikova L.M. Autonomous Power Supply Systems with Renewable Energy Sources and Smart Grid / Chetoshnikova L.M., Smolentsev N.I., Chetoshnikov S.A., Gusarov G.V. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2018 — Vol. 20, No. 5-6. — Pp. 3-10. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2018-20-5-6-3-10.

48. Bakhteev K.R. Development of a High-Power Hybrid Energy Storage System to Prevent ShortTerm Power Supply Failures for Industrial Consumers / Bakhteev K.R. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2017 — Vol. 20, No. 3-4. — Pp. 36-44.

49. Serdechny D.V. Features of Operation of an Energy Storage System Based on a Multi-Cell Lithium-Ion Battery / Serdechny D.V., Tomashevsky Yu.B. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2017 — Vol. 19, No. 9-10. — Pp. 140-145.

50. Bulatov Yu.N. Coordinated Management of Electricity Storages and Distributed Generation Plant with Predictive Controllers in a Power Supply System with Reduced Electricity Quality / Bulatov Yu.N., Kryukov A.V., Suslov K.V., Kizhin V.V. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2023 — Vol. 25, No. 6. — Pp. 3-13. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2023-25-6-3-13.

51. Chetoshnikova L.M. Power Flow Control in Local Networks / Chetoshnikova L.M., Smolentsev N.I., Tomskikh N.V., Gimgina D.A. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2023 — Vol. 25, No. 5. — Pp. 74-82. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2023-25-5-74–82.

52. Safin A.R. Analysis of the Technical Level of Developments in the Field of Mobile Charging Installations for Electric Transport / Safin A.R., Basenko V.R., Nizamiev M.F., Tsvetkov A.N., Petrov T.I. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2022 — Vol. 25, No. 3. — Pp. 55-64. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2023-25-3-55-64.

53. Ruban N.Yu. Analysis of the Impact of Renewable Energy Sources with Power Converters on Processes in Modern Power Systems / Ruban N.Yu., Askarov A.B., Andreev M.V., Kiyevets A.V., Rudnik V.E. // Bulletin of the Perm National Research Polytechnic University. Electrical Engineering, Information Technologies, Control Systems, 2020 — No. 36. — Pp. 7-30. DOI: 10.15593/2224-9397/2020.4.01.

54. Paseka V.A. Inertial Response of Solar Power Plants under Active Power Imbalances in the External Electrical Network / Paseka V.A. // Postgraduate, 2021 — No. 6(63). — Pp. 124-127. DOI: 10.46320/2077-7639-2022-3-112-48-56.

55. Chen X. Review on measurement-based frequency dynamics monitoring and analyzing in renewable energy dominated power systems / Chen X., Jiang Y., Terzija V., Chao L. // 2024 International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, 2024 — Vol. 155. — P.1-16. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2023.109520.

56. Tingyi H. Small-Signal Stability Analysis for Power System Frequency Regulation with Renewable Energy Participation / Tingyi H., Shengnan L., Shuijun W., Ke L. // 2021 Hindawi. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2021 — Vol. 2021. — P.1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/5556062.

57. Fishov A.G. Research on the Influence of Electronic Generation on Static Aperiodic Stability of the Electric Power System / Fishov A.G., Murashkina I.S., Marchenko A.I., Enkhsaihan E., Ivkin E.S. // News of Higher Educational Institutions. Power Engineering Problems, 2020 — Vol. 22, No. 2. — Pp. 51-64. DOI: 10.30724/1998-9903-2020-22-2-51-64.

58. Global electric car sales rose 31% in 2023 - Rho Motion [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uY4 (accessed on 19.06.2025).

59. Chile, salt lakes and Lithium: Current status of Production [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3A8uaV (accessed on 19.06.2025).

60. Wenjuan Liua Spatiotemporal patterns of lithium mining and environmental degradation in the Atacama Salt Flat, Chile. / Wenjuan Liua, Datu B. Agusdinataa, Soe W. Myintb. // 2019 International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 2019 — Vol. 80. — P.145-156.

61. Chinese and other cobalt mines boosting output despite price slide [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3DemKu (accessed on 19.06.2025).

62. Congo Cobalt Miners' Slave for Capitalists, including Chinese [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3DemWz (accessed on 19.06.2025).

63. Battery Push By Tesla And Other EV Makers Raises Child Labor Concerns [Electronic resource]: URL: https://clck.ru/3DemgD (accessed on 19.06.2025).

64. Sepeti B. Heavy Metal Pollution of Soils in Anthropogenically Altered Territories of the Republic of Zambia / Sepeti B., Chanda M., Chanda M. // 2018 Proceedings of the Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation (2018, Kursk, Russia) — KSU Publishing House, 2018 — Pp. 25-29.

65. Orazov K. Analysis and Development Prospects of Renewable Energy Sources / Orazov K., Orazov T., Orazov M. // Naukosfera, 2024 — No. 2-1. — Pp. 127-130.