From Ground to Grid: The Environmental Footprint of Minerals in Renewable Energy Supply Chains
Gautam Swami, Kajal Sheth, Dhvanil Patel
Abstract
Renewable energy technologies, while often labeled as clean or net-zero alternatives to fossil fuels, involve substantial use of critical minerals in products like electric vehicles, solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage systems. This aspect is frequently underappreciated, yet studies indicate it could be a significant area of environmental impact. For instance, research has shown that a typical electric vehicle needs around six times the mineral resources of a conventional vehicle, while an onshore wind turbine requires nine times the mineral input compared to a gas power plant of similar capacity. This paper seeks to analyze the environmental effects linked to the critical minerals required by certain renewable energy technologies. The study begins with an estimation of the future megawatt capacities for each type of renewable technology. Next, it calculates the specific mineral quantities necessary for each model, followed by an assessment of the environmental repercussions tied to their extraction and processing. The results highlight the unique environmental challenges posed by the rising demand for minerals in solar and wind energy systems, taking into account various adoption scenarios.