Mineral Foundations of the Energy Transition
Implications of energy transition on increased demand for minerals and the impacts on markets, trade, security, communities, geopolitics, prices, and technology development
Implications of energy transition on increased demand for minerals and the impacts on markets, trade, security, communities, geopolitics, prices, and technology development
Dr. Morgan Bazilian – congressional testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate -September 17, 2019
The current energy transformations now occurring globally—towards increased electrification, and low-carbon technologies, such as electric vehicles, fuel cells, wind turbines and solar photovoltaics (PV) rely on significant quantities of minerals and metals. The implications of increasing mineral demand has broad ramifications that go well beyond the energy and extractives sector.
Background
Calls for a Green New Deal and energy transition are coming from many global stakeholders. Less understood are the significant quantities of minerals that will be needed to fuel that transition. Examples include the rare earths neodymium and dysprosium for magnets in high-efficiency motors; lithium, cobalt, nickel and vanadium in energy storage; and platinum-group elements in catalysts and fuel cells. To supply the necessary minerals the mining industry is confronted with numerous challenges related to environment, innovation, investment, social license to operate among others.
Additionally, (or most) of the countries with the largest potentials (and existing markets) for these minerals are emerging and developing economies. This creates further concerns around governance and a changing geopolitical landscape. How this changing demand affects markets, trade, security, geopolitics, prices, and technology development are key questions to that require further exploration.
As one of the leading energy engineering universities in the world, Colorado School of Mines and the Payne Institute is facilitating an integrated approach to the technical and policy challenges related to the mineral foundations of the energy transition. Through research and collaboration with industry, government and other stakeholders, Mines is providing research and data to support decision-making and further consideration of the topic.
NEWS
Payne Institute for Public Policy 2024 State of Critical Minerals Report highlights potential of mining tailings and steep nickel cost curve 10/10/2024
Payne Institute for Public Policy 2024 State of Critical Minerals Report highlights potential of mining tailings and steep nickel cost curve
A new critical minerals report from The Payne Institute for Public Policy at Colorado School of Mines highlights the vast potential from mining tailings, the steep cost curve for Nickel, new legislation focused on increasing the domestic mining of critical minerals and the U.S. government’s recent $4.9 billion of investments in mining and processing. October 10, 2024.
THE STATE OF CRITICAL MINERALS REPORT 2024 10/10/2024
THE STATE OF CRITICAL MINERALS REPORT 2024
The Payne Institute for Public Policy and the Colorado School of Mines has released its second annual State of Critical Minerals Report. Building on last year’s report, which provided a comprehensive overview of the supply, demand, technical and political landscape for critical minerals globally, this year’s edition targets the U.S. federal response, while also examining dynamics that will impact the mining industry’s ability to meet the needs for critical minerals that are presented by the global energy transition. Highlights include the vast potential from mining tailings, the steep cost curve for Nickel, new legislation focused on increasing the domestic mining of critical minerals and the U.S. government’s recent $4.9 billion of investments in mining and processing. October 10, 2024.
Crested Butte celebrates permanent protections for its ‘Red Lady,’ a victory 47 years in the making 10/8/2024
Crested Butte celebrates permanent protections for its ‘Red Lady,’ a victory 47 years in the making
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Jessica Smith contributes to this article about how Sue Navy’s moment finally came, it took nearly 50 years. For decades, she and many others, protested, fundraised, lobbied, filed lawsuits and negotiated with government leaders and industry executives to permanently protect Mt. Emmons, which, at about 12,400 feet, towers over the town from the west and often glows red at dawn and dusk. October 8, 2024.
CHINA, CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES, AND NATIONAL SECURITY 10/2/2024
CHINA, CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES, AND NATIONAL SECURITY
Payne Institute Fellow Joshua Busby, Director Morgan Bazilian, and Emily Holland write about how the Biden administration announced sweeping 100 percent import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles as well as the batteries and minerals that go in them. While these minerals and refined products are sourced from various countries, China heavily dominates their processing and other stages along various supply chains. In what way is China’s domination of minerals processing, batteries, and potentially automobiles a threat to U.S. national security? October 2, 2024.
Indonesia ‘blood nickel’ risks too grave to ignore 9/21/2024
Indonesia ‘blood nickel’ risks too grave to ignore
Payne Institute Student Researcher Gabriel Collins, Director Morgan Bazilian, and Policy and Outreach Advisor Simon Lomax write about how manufacturers and investors should beware the reputational and operational risks of dealing in Indonesian nickel. Earlier this month, the US government sounded the alarm over the use of forced labor in the nickel mines of Indonesia, and the major implications for the energy transition. September 21, 2024.
Community Benefit Agreements are key to mining battery minerals on public lands 9/20/2024
Community Benefit Agreements are key to mining battery minerals on public lands
Payne Institute Faculty Fellow Elizabeth Holley writes this article about meeting energy transition goals for decarbonization and how it will require huge increases in the production of battery minerals such as copper, cobalt, nickel, manganese, lithium and graphite. The USA is almost entirely dependent on imports for most of these minerals, and the potential for geopolitical supply chain disruption has led to new federal policies that prioritize domestic mining. September 20, 2024.
The U.S. Needs to Produce More Minerals at Home. Current Policies Only Take Us Partway. 9/19/2024
The U.S. Needs to Produce More Minerals at Home. Current Policies Only Take Us Partway.
Payne Institute Communications Associate Gregory Wischer and Director Morgan Bazilian write about how the U.S. government has sought to increase domestic mineral production and processing through supply side policies, however boosting production also requires ramping up demand for domestic minerals. The U.S. government is already taking some valuable steps to support demand, but there is much more it could do. September 19, 2024.
Colorado’s quantum hub will revolutionize technology, with Colorado School of Mines helping lead the way 9/16/2024
Colorado’s quantum hub will revolutionize technology, with Colorado School of Mines helping lead the way
Payne Institute Fellow Lincoln Carr contributes to an article about Zhexuan Gong and other Mines researchers on how they turned to a quantum simulator made of a particular experimental device that uses electrodes and lasers to trap charged atoms. By controlling the interactions among the trapped ions, Gong and his collaborators were able to create a brand-new synthetic quantum material—the world’s first 1D magnet, made of just 23 atoms. September 16, 2024.
Senator Hickenlooper announces bipartisan legislation at the Mines Critical Minerals Symposium 9/13/2024
Senator Hickenlooper announces bipartisan legislation at the Mines Critical Minerals Symposium
The Payne Institute at Colorado School of Mines hosted Senator John Hickenlooper delivered a keynote address at our Critical Minerals Symposium on September 13. Hickenlooper proposes national leadership and innovation for clean and responsible critical mineral sourcing. During his speech, Hickenlooper announced a pair of bipartisan bills to guide a national strategy on a clean, responsible and innovative approach to sourcing critical minerals. September 13, 2024.
Keynote Video
Mines faculty member testifies before congressional critical minerals working group on U.S. mineral workforce 9/13/2024
Mines faculty member testifies before congressional critical minerals working group on U.S. mineral workforce
Payne Institute Fellow Elizabeth Holley testifies before the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party’s Critical Minerals Policy Working Group. The working group, chaired by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA) and Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL), explored the need to develop a skilled domestic workforce to support U.S. economic, energy and national security through the responsible sourcing of critical minerals. September 13, 2024.
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For more information about the Mineral Foundations of the Energy Transition Research Area at the Payne Institute for Public Policy, please contact our Deputy Director, Greg Clough, at gclough@mines.edu.