World Bank says mineral production to soar as demand for clean energy rises
The production of minerals, such as graphite, lithium and cobalt, could increase by nearly 500% by 2050 to meet the growing demand for clean energy technologies, according to a new World Bank report.
It estimates that more than three billion tonnes of minerals and metals will be needed to deploy wind, solar and geothermal power, as well as energy storage, required for achieving a below 2°C future.
The report - Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition - also finds that even though clean energy technologies will require more minerals, the carbon footprint of their production, from extraction to end use, will account for only 6% of the greenhouse gas emissions generated by fossil fuel technologies.
The report reveals that some minerals, like copper and molybdenum, will be used in a range of technologies, while others, such as graphite and lithium, may be needed for just one technology: battery storage.
