The Material Limits of Energy Transition: Thanatia

Description

Earth has become a huge mine, with a greater quantity and variety of fundamental mineral resources being extracted year after year. Technology, from electric cars to everyday electrical equipment, consume vast amounts of scarce raw materials. On a planet with limited resources, are these minerals being properly assessed? Will there be enough raw materials to meet the demand of a world population on track to reach 10 billion people? What will be the consequences of accelerated resource depredation? Will the planet one day become 'Thanatia', a resource-exhausted Earth? This book allows readers to understand the mineral heritage of the Earth, considering the demand for raw materials in society, comparing it with the availability of resources on Earth and the impact of mining.  The basics of physical geonomics are exlpained, allowing readers to analyse the loss of mineral resources on the planet. The impact of renewable energies and technologies, including electric vehicles, are studied. The book concludes with possible solutions to mineral depletion, from increasing recycling rates, ecodesign measures or alternative sources of mineral resources. Providing numerous tables and illustrations, 'The Material Limits of Energy Transition: Thanatia' gives readers a thorough understanding of mineral depletion. Exploring geology, geochemistry, mining, metallurgy, the environment and thermodynamics, this is a truly holistic book. Preface Contents About the Authors List of Figures List of Tables 1 What Is This Book About? References 2 The Mineral Voracity of Human Beings 2.1 Demand for Fossil Fuels 2.2 Demand for Minerals 2.3 Some Strategic Minerals for the Present and the Future 2.3.1 A Classic: Gold 2.3.2 Rare Earth and Other Essential Elements 2.3.3 Technological Materials: Cobalt, Lithium, Niobium and Tantalum 2.3.4 Indium, Gallium and Tellurium: The New Horizons of Photovoltaics 2.3.5 Phosphorus: The Next Green Gold 2.4 Mineral Criticality References 3 On the Availability of Resources on Earth 3.1 Resource Classification 3.2 Formation and Availability of Fossil Fuels 3.3 Formation and Availability of Non-energy Minerals 3.4 Mineral Extraction and Processing 3.4.1 Exploration and Research 3.4.2 Development 3.4.3 Exploitation: Extraction and Beneficiation 3.4.4 Operation: Smelting and Refining 3.4.5 Exploitation: Refined Hydrometallurgy 3.4.6 Case Study: Copper Processing 3.4.7 The Wheel of Metals 3.4.8 Reclamation, Rehabilitation and Post-closure 3.5 Environmental Impacts of Mining 3.6 Social Impacts of Mining References 4 The (Thermodynamic) Value of Scarcity 4.1 The Life Cycle of Materials 4.2 Thanatia 4.3 Energy Needed to Extract Minerals from Thanatia 4.4 Thermoeconomics, Exergy and Exergy Cost 4.5 Exergoecology 4.6 Exergy of Mineral Resources 4.6.1 Chemical Exergy 4.6.2 Concentration Exergy 4.6.3 Comminution Exergy 4.6.4 Exergy Contained in the Planet’s Mineral Resources 4.7 Exergy Replacement Costs 4.7.1 Exergy Replacement Costs as an Indicator of the Physical Value of Resources 4.7.2 Allocation of Costs in Mining and Metallurgy 4.8 Thermodynamic Rarity 4.8.1 Thermodynamic Rarity as an Indicator of Criticality 4.8.2 The Need for “Recyclaiming” References 5 Thermodynamic Assessment of the Loss of Mineral Wealth 5.1 Exergy Evolution of Global Historical Mineral Extraction 5.2 Exergy Evolution of the Future Extraction of Minerals 5.3 The Mineral Balance of Countries and Regions 5.3.1 Spain and Colombia 5.3.2 Latin America 5.3.3 Europe 5.4 Selling Cathedrals at Brick Price References 6 Material Limits of the Energy Transition 6.1 The Paris Agreements and Climate Scenarios 6.2 Generation of Energy from Renewable Sources 6.2.1 Biomass 6.2.2 Wind Power 6.2.3 Hydroelectric Power 6.2.4 Solar Energy 6.2.5 Ocean Energy 6.2.6 Geothermal Energy 6.2.7 Summary of Renewable Energy Sources 6.3 The Electric Vehicle 6.4 Cumulative Production of Low Carbon Technologies 6.5 Materials for Low Carbon Technologies 6.6 Exergy Flow Analysis of the Energy Transition Scenarios 6.7 Mineral Limits of the Energy Transition References 7 The Hidden Cost of Technologies 7.1 Thermodynamic Rarity of Electrical and Electronic Devices 7.2 Thermodynamic Rarity of Vehicles 7.3 Loss of Mineral Wealth Associated with Vehicles References 8 Looking into the Future 8.1 Substitution of Elements 8.1.1 Electric Vehicles 8.1.2 Renewable Energies 8.1.3 Printed Circuit Boards 8.1.4 Lighting 8.2 The Circular Economy 8.3 Recycling 8.4 The Thermodynamic Impossibility of Closing Cycles: The Spiral Economy 8.4.1 Recovery of Valuable Metals in Vehicles 8.5 Eco-design Measures 8.5.1 Eco-design Measures in Relation to Vehicles 8.6 Alternative Sources on Earth: Urban Mining 8.7 Alternative Sources Beyond Earth: Asteroid Mining References 9 Epilogue: For a New Humanism that Cares About the Future of the Planet 9.1 Reorienting Science and Technology of Materials 9.1.1 Materials, a Global Responsibility 9.1.2 Are There Technological Solutions? 9.2 For a New Humanism 9.2.1 A Quick Overview of the State of the Planet in the Twenty-First Century 9.2.2 Thanatia and Exponential Behaviour 9.2.3 Youngsters or Mature? 9.2.4 Thanatia and the Backwards Vision of the Future 9.2.5 The Need for a Strategic Plan for the Planet 9.2.6 A New Humanism References