producing plants renewable energy and electric batteries are important for the transition to a sustainable energy system, but They depend on non-renewable resources for their work.. This is especially minerals necessary to realize renewable energy, a resource that may not be available in sufficient quantities to effect the ecological transition if current global economic growth continues. This The only solution consists of a gradual reduction in industrial development and a greater circularity of resources.
This is the conclusion of the ‘Mineral requirements of the energy transition’ report conducted by Ecologistas en Acción, in which a global integrated assessment model was applied to predict what the demand for essential minerals for solar photovoltaic main energy technologies would be. Solar density, wind and electric batteries in three future scenarios with the 2050 horizon.
although some international organizations acknowledge the problem of material scarcityIn general, they tend to suggest that this can be resolved through reforms that promote a circular economy that allow to close loops and increase recycling rates as much as possible through good practices and eco-designs. However, this may not be enough, according to the report.
Doubts about the viability of the green transition
Report, In a green growth scenario, the demand for mineral supply to build new infrastructure to generate renewable energy will increase at an extraordinary rate. and electricity storage. This casts doubt on the viability of transitioning to renewable energies as currently recommended by major national and international organisations.
In contrast, in a decreasing scenario As simulated in this report, in addition to producing far fewer greenhouse gas emissions, there will be a much lower demand for the materials, but “there are other uses that are not yet economical or have other uses”.
“Exceeding currently estimated reserves cannot be avoided, particularly for some important materials such as cobalt, copper, nickel or silver, and various resources such as indium, molybdenum, nickel, selenium and tellurium,” the study said.
The results of this study have two main readings: on the one hand, “The transition to renewable energies will increase the pressure to extract mineral resources”, with all the serious problems that mining brings to the local population. An extraction that produces more and more toxic waste due to the low concentration of the minerals used in the ground. In fact, mining is already one of the industrial sectors in Europe that generates the most waste,” he said.
On the other hand, current known reserves are insufficient to meet future demand for some minerals currently in use. it will increase the pressure to push the exploitative frontier towards other areas., in fact, as recently happened in the EU and Spain. In the case of the green growth scenario, both problems will be much more urgent.
The solution: downsizing and a more circular economy
The Ecologytas en Acción study proposes various policy measures that can be implemented to reduce the demand for primary materials (to be mined) as much as possible and to minimize environmental impacts if they cannot be avoided. social.
To move towards a planned economic system that is not dependent on economic growth for environmental organization, agree on democratic control of the population commensurate with the boundaries of the planet and consider cultural changes in behavior to adopt uses and customs that require less density of materials and energy.
“Technologically”It is essential to promote the R&D of technologies based on abundant materials, to promote eco-design and standardization of products to facilitate repairability and recycling of products.improving industrial processes to reduce waste during the production of parts and equipment”.
“In the materials management sector, increasing end-of-life recycling rates and establishment of the mandatory minimum content of secondary metals in the manufacture of new devicesThe promotion of urban mining, the creation of public companies promoting the mineral recovery and recycling industry to face the reality that raw metals are cheaper than recycled today, fiscal measures, trade restrictions, international law, or measures to control and limit primary extraction,” they point out.
Finally, the conclusion of the report is: Addressing the necessary transition towards a sustainable energy system will only be possible with economic downturn and significant progress in the circular economy. environmental. But both proposals are insufficient unless we move towards a socially planned economy with democratic control over the use of resources and the redistribution of wealth.
Full report: https://www.ecologistasenaccion.org/284674/
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