Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy Scenarios
As environmental problems associated with energy systems become more serious, it is necessary to address them with consideration of their interconnections—for example, the energy-mineral nexus. Specifically, it is unclear whether long-term energy scenarios assuming the expansion of low carbon energy...
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doaj-f7fc5a87d5204b2d9c44d9db226b15d72020-11-24T23:46:03ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2018-04-018415610.3390/min8040156min8040156Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy ScenariosTakuma Watari0Benjamin C. McLellan1Seiichi Ogata2Tetsuo Tezuka3Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanGraduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanGraduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanGraduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, JapanAs environmental problems associated with energy systems become more serious, it is necessary to address them with consideration of their interconnections—for example, the energy-mineral nexus. Specifically, it is unclear whether long-term energy scenarios assuming the expansion of low carbon energy technology are sustainable in terms of resource constraints. However, there are few studies that comprehensively analyze the possibility of resource constraints in the process of introducing low carbon energy technology from a long-term perspective. Hence, to provide guidelines for technological development and policy-making toward realizing the low carbon society, this paper undertakes the following: (1) Estimation of the impact of the expansion of low carbon energy technology on future metal demand based, on the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s scenarios; (2) estimation of the potential effects of low carbon energy technology recycling on the future supply-demand balance; (3) identification of critical metals that require priority measures. Results indicated that the introduction of solar power and next-generation vehicles may be hindered by resource depletion. Among the metals examined, indium, tellurium, silver, lithium, nickel and platinum were identified as critical metals that require specific measures. As recycling can reduce primary demand by 20%~70% for low carbon energy technology, countermeasures including recycling need to be considered.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/8/4/156critical mineralsresource constraintslow-carbon energy scenariosustainability |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Takuma Watari Benjamin C. McLellan Seiichi Ogata Tetsuo Tezuka |
spellingShingle |
Takuma Watari Benjamin C. McLellan Seiichi Ogata Tetsuo Tezuka Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy Scenarios Minerals critical minerals resource constraints low-carbon energy scenario sustainability |
author_facet |
Takuma Watari Benjamin C. McLellan Seiichi Ogata Tetsuo Tezuka |
author_sort |
Takuma Watari |
title |
Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy Scenarios |
title_short |
Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy Scenarios |
title_full |
Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy Scenarios |
title_fullStr |
Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy Scenarios |
title_full_unstemmed |
Analysis of Potential for Critical Metal Resource Constraints in the International Energy Agency’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Energy Scenarios |
title_sort |
analysis of potential for critical metal resource constraints in the international energy agency’s long-term low-carbon energy scenarios |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Minerals |
issn |
2075-163X |
publishDate |
2018-04-01 |
description |
As environmental problems associated with energy systems become more serious, it is necessary to address them with consideration of their interconnections—for example, the energy-mineral nexus. Specifically, it is unclear whether long-term energy scenarios assuming the expansion of low carbon energy technology are sustainable in terms of resource constraints. However, there are few studies that comprehensively analyze the possibility of resource constraints in the process of introducing low carbon energy technology from a long-term perspective. Hence, to provide guidelines for technological development and policy-making toward realizing the low carbon society, this paper undertakes the following: (1) Estimation of the impact of the expansion of low carbon energy technology on future metal demand based, on the International Energy Agency (IEA)’s scenarios; (2) estimation of the potential effects of low carbon energy technology recycling on the future supply-demand balance; (3) identification of critical metals that require priority measures. Results indicated that the introduction of solar power and next-generation vehicles may be hindered by resource depletion. Among the metals examined, indium, tellurium, silver, lithium, nickel and platinum were identified as critical metals that require specific measures. As recycling can reduce primary demand by 20%~70% for low carbon energy technology, countermeasures including recycling need to be considered. |
topic |
critical minerals resource constraints low-carbon energy scenario sustainability |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/8/4/156 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT takumawatari analysisofpotentialforcriticalmetalresourceconstraintsintheinternationalenergyagencyslongtermlowcarbonenergyscenarios AT benjamincmclellan analysisofpotentialforcriticalmetalresourceconstraintsintheinternationalenergyagencyslongtermlowcarbonenergyscenarios AT seiichiogata analysisofpotentialforcriticalmetalresourceconstraintsintheinternationalenergyagencyslongtermlowcarbonenergyscenarios AT tetsuotezuka analysisofpotentialforcriticalmetalresourceconstraintsintheinternationalenergyagencyslongtermlowcarbonenergyscenarios |
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