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

(2024) MINERAL ECONOMICS. 37(3). p.669-676
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Abstract
The massive deployment of clean energy technologies plays a vital role in the strategy to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 and allow subsequent negative CO2 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.
Keywords
Energy transition, Materials criticality, Mining, Mineral processing, Renewable energy, Wind energy, Photovoltaics, Energy storage, Batteries, Hydrogen, Water electrolysis

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MLA
Mertens, Jan, et al. “From Emissions to Resources : Mitigating the Critical Raw Material Supply Chain Vulnerability of Renewable Energy Technologies.” MINERAL ECONOMICS, vol. 37, no. 3, 2024, pp. 669–76, doi:10.1007/s13563-024-00425-2.
APA
Mertens, J., Dewulf, J., Breyer, C., Belmans, R., Gendron, C., Geoffron, P., … Debackere, K. (2024). From emissions to resources : mitigating the critical raw material supply chain vulnerability of renewable energy technologies. MINERAL ECONOMICS, 37(3), 669–676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13563-024-00425-2
Chicago author-date
Mertens, Jan, Jo Dewulf, Christian Breyer, Ronnie Belmans, Corinne Gendron, Patrice Geoffron, Luc Goossens, et al. 2024. “From Emissions to Resources : Mitigating the Critical Raw Material Supply Chain Vulnerability of Renewable Energy Technologies.” MINERAL ECONOMICS 37 (3): 669–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13563-024-00425-2.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Mertens, Jan, Jo Dewulf, Christian Breyer, Ronnie Belmans, Corinne Gendron, Patrice Geoffron, Luc Goossens, Carolyn Fischer, Elodie Du Fornel, Katharine Hayhoe, Katsu Hirose, Elodie Le Cadre-Loret, Richard Lester, Fanny Maigne, Habibou Maitournam, Paulo Emilio Valadao de Miranda, Peter Verwee, Olivier Sala, Michael Webber, and Koenraad Debackere. 2024. “From Emissions to Resources : Mitigating the Critical Raw Material Supply Chain Vulnerability of Renewable Energy Technologies.” MINERAL ECONOMICS 37 (3): 669–676. doi:10.1007/s13563-024-00425-2.
Vancouver
1.
Mertens J, Dewulf J, Breyer C, Belmans R, Gendron C, Geoffron P, et al. From emissions to resources : mitigating the critical raw material supply chain vulnerability of renewable energy technologies. MINERAL ECONOMICS. 2024;37(3):669–76.
IEEE
[1]
J. Mertens et al., “From emissions to resources : mitigating the critical raw material supply chain vulnerability of renewable energy technologies,” MINERAL ECONOMICS, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 669–676, 2024.
@article{01HT56905EX6E1CDEVJA5AV4D2,
  abstract     = {{The massive deployment of clean energy technologies plays a vital role in the strategy to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 and allow subsequent negative CO2 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.}},
  author       = {{Mertens, Jan and Dewulf, Jo and  Breyer, Christian and  Belmans, Ronnie and  Gendron, Corinne and  Geoffron, Patrice and  Goossens, Luc and  Fischer, Carolyn and  Du Fornel, Elodie and  Hayhoe, Katharine and  Hirose, Katsu and  Le Cadre-Loret, Elodie and  Lester, Richard and  Maigne, Fanny and  Maitournam, Habibou and  de Miranda, Paulo Emilio Valadao and  Verwee, Peter and  Sala, Olivier and  Webber, Michael and  Debackere, Koenraad}},
  issn         = {{2191-2203}},
  journal      = {{MINERAL ECONOMICS}},
  keywords     = {{Energy transition,Materials criticality,Mining,Mineral processing,Renewable energy,Wind energy,Photovoltaics,Energy storage,Batteries,Hydrogen,Water electrolysis}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{669--676}},
  title        = {{From emissions to resources : mitigating the critical raw material supply chain vulnerability of renewable energy technologies}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1007/s13563-024-00425-2}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}

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