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Study finds we have enough rare Earth minerals to fuel green energy shift

The world does have enough rare earth minerals and other critical raw materials to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

The UK's Crown Estate says ths six new offshore wind projects will generate electricity for more than seven million homes
The UK's Crown Estate says ths six new offshore wind projects will generate electricity for more than seven million homes - Copyright AFP Oikeutta Elaimille
The UK's Crown Estate says ths six new offshore wind projects will generate electricity for more than seven million homes - Copyright AFP Oikeutta Elaimille

The world does have enough rare earth minerals and other critical raw materials to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy to produce electricity to counter climate change.

CTV News Canada reports that some people are concerned that there won’t be enough key minerals to make the decarbonization switch, however, a new study counters concerns about the supply of such minerals.

The new study, published in Science Direct on January 27, 2023, concludes that geologic reserves of materials are sufficient to meet all projected future demands, and emissions impacts of material production are non-negligible but limited in magnitude.

Spain's rare earths pit greens against tech security -- and profit
Spread thinly, rare earths are essential in a range of high-tech products key to combatting climate change – Copyright AFP Jim WATSON

Rare Earth minerals are not so rare

Rare earth minerals, also called rare earth elements, are not as rare as some people believe. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), rare earths are a “relatively abundant” group of 17 elements composed of scandium, yttrium, and lanthanides. 

The elements are essential for producing strong magnets necessary for wind turbines; they also show up in smartphones, computer displays, and LED light bulbs, according to the Associated Press.

In the study, scientists looked at all 17 rare earths, as well as 20 different power sources. They calculated supplies and pollution from mining if green power surged to meet global goals to cut heat-trapping carbon emissions from fossil fuel.

The scientists found that more mining is needed, but there are enough minerals to go around, and drilling for them will not significantly worsen global warming.

“Decarbonization is going to be big and messy, but at the same time we can do it,” said study co-author Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist at the tech company Stripe and Berkeley Earth. “I’m not worried we’re going to run out of these materials.”

One of the biggest global concerns centers around lithium, needed for batteries used by electric vehicles. Interestingly, the study does not look at that.

Looking at mineral demands for batteries is much more complicated than for electric power and that’s what the team will do next, Hausfather said. The power sector is still about one-third to half of the resource issue, he said.

In South America, lithium is derived from salars, or salt flats
In South America, lithium is derived from salars, or salt flats – Copyright AFP Martin BERNETTI

It is not going to be easy

A lot depends on how fast the world switches to green energy, and there will be a shortage of supplies. For example, dysprosium is a mineral used for magnets in wind turbines and a big push for cleaner electricity would require three times as much dysprosium as currently produced, according to the study.

However, there is over 12 times the supply of dysprosium in reserve than would be needed in that clean energy push.

“There are enough materials in reserves. The analysis is robust and this study debunks those (running out of minerals) concerns,” said Daniel Ibarra, an environment professor at Brown University, who wasn’t part of the study but looks at lithium shortages. But he said production capacity has to grow for some “key metals” and one issue is how fast can it grow.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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