The Material Basis of Energy Transitions

Description

The Material Basis of Energy Transitions explores the intersection between critical raw material provision and the energy system. Chapters draw on examples and case studies involving energy technologies (e.g., electric power, transport) and raw material provision (e.g., mining, recycling), and consider these in their regional and global contexts. The book critically discusses issues such as the notion of criticality in the context of a circular economy, approaches for estimating the need for raw materials, certification schemes for raw materials, the role of consumers, and the impact of renewable energy development on resource conflicts. Each chapter deals with a specific issue that characterizes the interdependency between critical raw materials and renewable energies by examining case studies from a particular conceptual perspective.   The book is a resource for students and researchers from the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, as well as interdisciplinary scholars interested in the field of renewable energies, the circular economy, recycling, transport, and mining. The book is also of interest to policymakers in the fields of renewable energy, recycling, and mining, professionals from the energy and resource industries, as well as energy experts and consultants looking for an interdisciplinary assessment of critical materials. Cover The Material Basis of Energy Transitions Copyright Contributors The material basis of energy transitions—An introduction References The repatriation challenge: Critical minerals mining in the United States Introduction The US context Reviewing the literature on extraction and society Methods Stories from the mining fields Alaska Wyoming Texas Critical elements and social license An emerging social science research agenda References Metal-energy nexus in the global energy transition calls for cooperative actions Introduction Global energy system shifts from carbon driven to metal driven Energy transition: Becoming more metal driven? Energy-critical elements: Nexus energy and critical metals The sustainable material cycle in the global energy transition Global challenges call for cooperative action Challenges: Pressing constraints beyond physical scarcity Looking ahead: Joint efforts by stakeholders throughout the metal cycle and trade network Acknowledgments References The dependency of renewable energy technologies on critical resources Introduction to the “critical,” “resources,” and “renewables” Renewable energy technologies The “criticality” aspect Material and nonmaterial resources Renewable energies and their material resources demand Biomass Water Run-of-river and reservoir type hydroelectric power plants Tidal power plant Solar Photovoltaics Solar thermal Concentrated solar power Wind energy Geothermal energy Conclusion: Materials demand for renewable energies References Stationary battery systems: Future challenges regarding resources, recycling, and sustainability Background Future demand for stationary energy storage Potential lithium-based electrochemical energy storage options Calculation of the potential resource demand for batteries Approach, assumptions, and scenarios Scenario for LCO Scenario for NMC 111 Scenario for NMC 622 Scenario for NMC 811 Scenario for NCA Scenario for LFP Discussion of the scenarios Recycling and sustainability aspects of LIBs and PLBs Recycling of LIBs PLBs and potential recycling challenges Conclusions Acknowledgment References Making critical materials valuable: Decarbonization, investment, and “political risk” Introduction Resource-making” and critical raw materials Valuation, critical raw materials, and “political risk” Strategic” minerals, royalties, and stabilization provisions in DRC HySA and South Africa’s platinum futures Conclusion: Provincializing criticality assessments References Environmental impacts of mineral sourcing and their impacts on criticality Introduction Environmental impacts—Scope and data The lifecycle perspective Local environmental impact perspective Energy and environmental impacts Changing environmental impacts and mitigation Mines Processing, extraction, smelting, and refining Demand side Waste and recycling Conclusions References Limits of life cycle assessment in the context of the energy transition and its material basis Introduction Life cycle assessment (LCA) and resource consumption indicators The role of indicator selection in LCA Resource accounting methods (RAM) Midpoint methods Endpoint methods What is the right indicator or method? Indicators and their relationship to the material demands of emerging renewable energy technologies Discussion on the use of indicators for evaluating resource saving potentials Conclusion References Critical resources, sustainability, and future generations Introduction Critical resources, conflict resources, and sustainability Critical resources, conflict resources, and future generations Parfit’s paradox and future generations The needs of future generations How many future generations do we need to consider? Taking precautions for future generations Conclusions References Conflicts related to resources: The case of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo Introduction Analyzing mining conflicts from a political-ecological perspective Cobalt: From the DRC to the electric car Conflicts around cobalt mining: The upstream end in the DRC Conflicts around cobalt mining: The downstream end in the Global North Conflicts around cobalt mining: Connections and contradictions Conclusion: Conflicts linked to raw materials required for energy transitions References Voluntary sustainability initiatives: An approach to make mining more responsible? Introduction The landscape of voluntary sustainability initiatives Overview of initiatives Content of sustainability requirements Assurance systems Achievements and limitations Reach of voluntary initiatives Harmonization of standard requirements Transparency of mining and mineral supply chains Sustainability reporting and performance Limited capacity to deal with deviant and illegal behavior The cost of certification and voluntary initiatives Conclusion Acknowledgments References The role of a circular economy for energy transition Introduction Resource supply and competition Reducing supply risks using circular economy Product design and materials recovery Conclusions References Substitution of critical materials, a strategy to deal with the material needs of the energy transition? Material substitution for renewable energy technologies Substance for substance substitution Service for product substitution Process for process substitution New technology for substance Creating substitutes: By engineering simulation Barriers to substitution Conclusions References Renewable energy technologies and their implications for critical materials from a sociology of consumption perspective: Th ... Introduction Consumption and society-nature relations The “why” of consumption: Sociocultural and sociopsychological functions of goods and services The case of electric vehicles and photovoltaic systems Discussion and conclusion References Renewable energy and critical minerals: A field worthy of interdisciplinary research References Author Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W X Y Z Subject Index A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P R S T U V W Back Cover