
From emissions to resources : mitigating the critical raw material supply chain vulnerability of renewable energy technologies
- Author
- Jan Mertens (UGent) , Jo Dewulf (UGent) , 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
- Organization
- 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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Citation
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-01HT56905EX6E1CDEVJA5AV4D2
- 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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