The UK's'green future' and mining in the south west
Introduction
To meet emissions targets and keep within +1.5oC of global warming the world is increasingly turning to green technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles (EVs) and large-scale battery storage.
[Photo courtesy of Cornish Lithium]
These green technologies require vast amounts of raw materials, i.e. metals, concrete and steel. For example, a solar panel requires 16 different mineral and metals. To meet growing demand production of raw materials will need to increase through mining. Production of certain minerals, such as graphite, lithium and cobalt are predicted to increase by almost 500% by 2050. To minimise the social and environmental cost of these raw materials mining will need to be responsible and sustainable, dubbed Climate Smart Mining by the World Bank.
In this hugely thought-provoking and academic article, Rowan Halkes (Graduate Research Assistant, Camborne School of Mines) considers the challenges and opportunities associated with the UK's drive for a 'green future'.
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About the Author
Rowan Halkes
Graduate Research Assistant at the Camborne School of Mines – University of Exeter
Rowan Halkes grew up in South Devon (albeit with a year hiatus in Tasmania) and went to university in Cornwall. He graduated with a BSc Applied Geology from Camborne School of Mines – University of Exeter in 2018 and has since worked in mineral exploration and environmental geoscience. He currently works as a Graduate Research Assistant at the Camborne School of Mines – University of Exeter on the MIREU project.
References
BBC Future Planet Article: The new 'gold rush' for green lithium
Guardian Article: UK carmakers have three years to source local electric car batteries
Minerals Engineering International Blog: Critical Metals and the UK’s “Green Industrial Revolution”
MINING.COM Article: All the Mines Tesla Needs to Build 20 Million Cars a Year
Northwest Mining Association: Wind Power Needs Metals and Minerals
Proactive Investors: The great British mining revival is needed now more than ever
Visual Capitalist: Climate Smart Mining: Minerals for Climate Action
Visual Capitalist: The Raw Materials That Fuel The Green Revolution
World Bank: Climate Smart Mining: Minerals for Climate Action
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