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.