The Material Basis of Energy Transitions explores the intersection between critical raw material provision and the energy system. Chapters draw on examples and case studies involving energy technologies (e.g., electric power, transport) and raw material provision (e.g., mining, recycling), and consider these in their regional and global contexts. The book critically discusses issues such as the notion of criticality in the context of a circular economy, approaches for estimating the need for raw materials, certification schemes for raw materials, the role of consumers, and the impact of renewable energy development on resource conflicts.
Each chapter deals with a specific issue that characterizes the interdependency between critical raw materials and renewable energies by examining case studies from a particular conceptual perspective. The book is a resource for students and researchers from the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, as well as interdisciplinary scholars interested in the field of renewable energies, the circular economy, recycling, transport, and mining. The book is also of interest to policymakers in the fields of renewable energy, recycling, and mining, professionals from the energy and resource industries, as well as energy experts and consultants looking for an interdisciplinary assessment of critical materials.
1. Chapter 1: The material basis of energy transitions—An introduction - p. page_1 2. Chapter 2: The repatriation challenge: Critical minerals mining in the United States - p. page_11 3. Chapter 3: Metal-energy nexus in the global energy transition calls for cooperative actions - p. page_27 4. Chapter 4: The dependency of renewable energy technologies on critical resources - p. page_49 5. Chapter 5: Stationary battery systems: Future challenges regarding resources, recycling, and sustainability - p. page_71 6. Chapter 6: Making critical materials valuable: Decarbonization, investment, and “political risk” - p. page_91 7. Chapter 7: Environmental impacts of mineral sourcing and their impacts on criticality - p. page_109 8. Chapter 8: Limits of life cycle assessment in the context of the energy transition and its material basis - p. page_121 9. Chapter 9: Critical resources, sustainability, and future generations - p. page_141 10. Chapter 10: Conflicts related to resources: The case of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo - p. page_153 11. Chapter 11: Voluntary sustainability initiatives: An approach to make mining more responsible? - p. page_169 12. Chapter 12: The role of a circular economy for energy transition - p. page_187 13. Chapter 13: Substitution of critical materials, a strategy to deal with the material needs of the energy transition? - p. page_199 14. Chapter 14: Renewable energy technologies and their implications for critical materials from a sociology of consumption perspective: The case of photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles - p. page_207 15. Chapter 15: Renewable energy and critical minerals: A field worthy of interdisciplinary research - p. page_223 16. Author Index - p. page_229 17. Subject Index - p. page_239
The Material Basis of Energy Transitions explores the intersection between critical raw material provision and the energy system. Chapters draw on examples and case studies involving energy technologies (e.g., electric power, transport) and raw material provision (e.g., mining, recycling), and consider these in their regional and global contexts. The book critically discusses issues such as the notion of criticality in the context of a circular economy, approaches for estimating the need for raw materials, certification schemes for raw materials, the role of consumers, and the impact of renewable energy development on resource conflicts.
Each chapter deals with a specific issue that characterizes the interdependency between critical raw materials and renewable energies by examining case studies from a particular conceptual perspective. The book is a resource for students and researchers from the social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, as well as interdisciplinary scholars interested in the field of renewable energies, the circular economy, recycling, transport, and mining. The book is also of interest to policymakers in the fields of renewable energy, recycling, and mining, professionals from the energy and resource industries, as well as energy experts and consultants looking for an interdisciplinary assessment of critical materials.
1. Chapter 1: The material basis of energy transitions—An introduction - p. page_1 2. Chapter 2: The repatriation challenge: Critical minerals mining in the United States - p. page_11 3. Chapter 3: Metal-energy nexus in the global energy transition calls for cooperative actions - p. page_27 4. Chapter 4: The dependency of renewable energy technologies on critical resources - p. page_49 5. Chapter 5: Stationary battery systems: Future challenges regarding resources, recycling, and sustainability - p. page_71 6. Chapter 6: Making critical materials valuable: Decarbonization, investment, and “political risk” - p. page_91 7. Chapter 7: Environmental impacts of mineral sourcing and their impacts on criticality - p. page_109 8. Chapter 8: Limits of life cycle assessment in the context of the energy transition and its material basis - p. page_121 9. Chapter 9: Critical resources, sustainability, and future generations - p. page_141 10. Chapter 10: Conflicts related to resources: The case of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo - p. page_153 11. Chapter 11: Voluntary sustainability initiatives: An approach to make mining more responsible? - p. page_169 12. Chapter 12: The role of a circular economy for energy transition - p. page_187 13. Chapter 13: Substitution of critical materials, a strategy to deal with the material needs of the energy transition? - p. page_199 14. Chapter 14: Renewable energy technologies and their implications for critical materials from a sociology of consumption perspective: The case of photovoltaic systems and electric vehicles - p. page_207 15. Chapter 15: Renewable energy and critical minerals: A field worthy of interdisciplinary research - p. page_223 16. Author Index - p. page_229 17. Subject Index - p. page_239
