From emissions to resources: mitigating the critical raw material supply chain vulnerability of renewable energy technologies

• Published in: Mineral economics : raw materials report Vol. 37; no. 3; pp. 669 - 676
• Main Authors: Mertens, Jan, Dewulf, Jo, Breyer, Christian, Belmans, Ronnie, Gendron, Corinne, Geoffron, Patrice, Goossens, Luc, Fischer, Carolyn, Du Fornel, Elodie, Hayhoe, Katharine, Hirose, Katsu, Le Cadre-Loret, Elodie, Lester, Richard, Maigné, Fanny, Maitournam, Habibou, de Miranda, Paulo Emilio Valadão, Verwee, Peter, Sala, Olivier, Webber, Michael, Debackere, Koenraad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-09-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Alternative energy; Carbon; Carbon dioxide emissions; Clean energy; Clean technology; Comment; Economics; Economics and Finance; Energy technology; Energy transition; Engineering Economics; Environmental Economics; Industrial Organization; Innovation/Technology Management; Innovations; Lithium-ion batteries; Logistics; Marketing; Mineral Resources; Neutrality; Organization; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; R&D; Raw materials; Renewable energy; Renewable energy technologies; Renewable resources; Research & development; Solar energy; Strategic materials; Supply chains; Sustainability; Sustainable energy; Turbines; Wind power; Wind turbines; Materials criticality; Mining; Wind energy; Renewable energy; Hydrogen; Energy transition; Water electrolysis; Batteries; Mineral processing; Photovoltaics; Energy storage
• ISSN: 2191-2203; 2191-2211
• DOI: 10.1007/s13563-024-00425-2

The massive deployment of clean energy technologies plays a vital role in the strategy to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 and allow subsequent negative CO
2
emissions in order to achieve our climate goals. An emerging challenge, known as ‘From Emissions to Resources,’ highlights the significant increase in demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) in clean energy technologies. Despite the presence of ample geological reserves, ensuring sustainable access to these materials is crucial for the successful transition to clean energy, taking into account the environmental and social impacts. The commentary centers on four renewable energy technologies namely solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, Li-ion batteries, and water electrolysers. Four pathways for mitigation are quantitatively examined to assess their potential in reducing the vulnerability of the CRM supply chain for these four clean energy technologies: (i) Enhancing material efficiency, (ii) employing substitutivity strategies, (iii) exploring recycling prospects, and (iv) promoting relocalisation initiatives. It is important to note that no single mitigation lever can completely eliminate the risk of CRM supply, rather the accelerated adoption of all four levers is necessary to minimize the CRM supply risk to its absolute minimum. Hence, the study underscores the significance of increased research, innovation, and regulatory initiatives, along with raising social awareness, in effectively addressing the challenges faced by the CRM supply chain and contributing to a sustainable energy transition.