Energy Is the Economy: And the Economy Is Still Overwhelmingly Fossil Fuelled – by Amanda Van Dyke (Substack – April 10, 2026)

Key Takeaways

• Fossil fuels still supply over 80% of global primary energy
• Renewable rollout demands unprecedented mining of rare earths and metals
• AI and data centers may raise electricity demand 30% by 2035
• Nuclear fission offers dense, low‑carbon power without massive material expansion
• Policy shift toward nuclear could meet energy needs while limiting mining

Pulse Analysis

Energy underpins every facet of modern economies, from manufacturing to digital services. Historically, economic growth has been tied to the availability of high‑quality fuels, and today’s global population is pushing total energy consumption toward unprecedented levels. As emerging markets industrialize and affluent societies adopt energy‑intensive lifestyles, the demand for reliable power is set to outpace the modest gains from efficiency alone, making the source of that power a decisive factor for future prosperity.

The prevailing net‑zero narrative emphasizes wind, solar, electric vehicles and battery storage, yet each of these technologies carries a hidden material bill. Large‑scale solar farms and offshore wind require millions of tonnes of steel, copper, aluminum and rare‑earth elements, while battery production consumes cobalt, lithium and nickel at rates that strain existing supply chains. Simultaneously, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence workloads and data‑center capacity is projected to lift global electricity demand by roughly 30% by 2035, intensifying pressure on the grid. Without a parallel surge in low‑carbon baseload capacity, the world risks a supply‑demand mismatch that could jeopardize climate goals.

Nuclear fission, by contrast, delivers dense, continuous power with a comparatively modest material footprint. Modern reactor designs, such as small modular reactors and advanced Generation‑IV concepts, promise enhanced safety, lower waste volumes and the ability to co‑locate with industrial heat users. Integrating nuclear into national energy strategies can provide the baseload needed to absorb renewable intermittency while curbing the surge in mineral extraction. Policymakers and investors who recognize nuclear’s strategic advantage are better positioned to fund the infrastructure that will sustain economic growth, secure energy independence, and keep climate targets within reach.