Transitioning to a low-carbon economy is essential to combat climate change, but it raises concerns about the increase in global mining. Solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and nuclear power plants all require a variety of minerals such as silicon, nickel, lithium, and uranium. This could lead to the assumption that shifting to clean energy will cause a significant rise in mining activities. However, a deeper look into the data tells a different story.
The key is to compare the material requirements of low-carbon energy systems with the status quo — fossil fuels. The alternative to a renewable energy future is not a world without energy; it’s continuing to rely on coal, oil, and gas, which also require extensive mining. In fact, when factoring in the fuel extraction needed to power coal plants, the mining footprint of fossil fuels far exceeds that of renewable energy sources.
Recent studies, such as those by Seaver Wang and his colleagues at The Breakthrough Institute, show that renewables and nuclear power have significantly lower material requirements over time. For example, nuclear power has the lowest material footprint, requiring far less concrete, steel, and other materials compared to onshore wind or solar. Even when we account for the waste rock created by mining metals like nickel, clean energy technologies still result in less overall mining than coal.
Furthermore, coal’s mining footprint is up to 26 times higher than solar power and 50 times higher than nuclear. While natural gas falls somewhere in between, it still demands more resources than renewables or nuclear.
In conclusion, while the shift to renewable energy will require mining, it’s clear that the material demands are much lower than continuing with fossil fuels. Reducing our reliance on coal and gas not only benefits the environment in terms of carbon emissions but also in the reduction of global mining activities. Nonetheless, responsible mining practices and recycling must remain priorities in the transition to a greener future.
Hannah Ritchie (2024) - “Low-carbon technologies need far less mining than fossil fuels” Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/low-carbon-technologies-need-far-less-mining-fossil-fuels' [Online Resource]
