An oncoming mineral shortage may derail our green future. Clean energy demand for critical minerals set to soar as the world pursues net zero goals.
Clean tech like EVs and wind power require a lot of rare earth and minerals. We may not have enough to support our long-term clean energy goals.
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Humans can’t catch a break, even in the future. A recently released report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), highlighted the at-odds relationship between the surging demand for rare minerals and their tight supply.
Experts believe this mismatch could derail countries’ efforts to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, the most recent UN goal.
The reason…
Green energy production is a mineral junkie
Popular green energy solutions use a variety of rare earth metals and minerals. Two examples:According to the IEA’s analysis, manufacturers will need 6x the amount of minerals being produced today by 2040.
- An electric vehicle (EV) uses 6x as many mineral resources as a fossil fuel car.
- An offshore wind plant requires 9x as many mineral resources as a comparable gas power plant.
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https://thehustle.co/05112021-minerals-shortage/