Sir, Janet Barber (Letters, August 24) has correctly highlighted the inevitable environmental costs of using rare-earth metals in seemingly green, renewable technologies. Magnets manufactured from these metals are used extensively in wind turbines and for extending the range of electric vehicles. The manufacture of solar PV panels — the icon of all that is green — requires caustic chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid and at least one rare or precious metal, including silver, tellurium or indium. One adds for consideration, the environmental and ethical burdens of cobalt production for electric vehicles (“Lack of ethical cobalt undermines Tesla debt” John Dizard, FTfm August 14). Such fundamental problems significantly undercut the much promoted ability of “green technologies” to fight climate change. As with the hidden financial costs of integrating renewable power (letter from Robert Goss and Phil Heptonstall, August 24), similar hidden, environmental costs relating to all “green tech products” — must be laid open for careful scrutiny. Only through increased focus, analysis and transparency in tackling the dirtier side of otherwise clean energy sources can they one day be seen truly, and not just symbolically, green.
Prof Peter P Edwards Chemistry Dept, University of Oxford, UK
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