Batteries and rare earths: So Europe can still win the energy transition challenge

in Germany, at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology – writes Edoardo Vigna in the Climate and Environment newsletter (subscribe, free, here) – researchers claim to have found a way to Recycle lithium batteries without wasting energy or using toxic chemicals. A very important step from the point of view of the circular economy, given that lithium batteries are fundamental to electric mobility and because the extraction of this alkali metal – in addition to being highly polluting and energy-consuming – places many countries, starting with Italy, at the mercy of the mine-owning states, both from an economic point of view Or in terms of dependency and security. Alket found a way to do that Recover up to 70 percent of lithium from spent batteries Without the need to use polluting, corrosive or high temperature chemicals, but the combination of mechanical processes and chemical reactions. Now of course it is about seeing how this discovery can be brought into production. It will take some time. What we lack, unfortunately. This forces us to accelerate other available methods and avenues for minimizing the increase in temperature until science provides answers that can save the planet.

He also deals with the need to accompany the green transition with the circular economy, in connection with the rare earth problem, in a discourse on lavoce.infoMarco Compagnoni, economist on environmental problems related to technological and energy transition. Its starting point should be known by now to most: the fight against climate change and the creation of economic value increasingly depend on Technologies based on the exploitation of non-fossil natural resources. Some examples: Silicon and palladium are used in the production of microchips used in any digital devices; Rare earths are used for the permanent magnets that enable wind turbines to be powered, but also for the electronics and aerospace sectors; Cobalt and lithium are used in the production of batteries, which in turn are essential for the deployment of electric mobility, but also for portable electronic devices. International Energy Agency (IEA) Appreciation (a) 4- to 6-fold growth in mineral resource use, depending on the climate policy scenario, compared to current consumption, just for clean energy technologies.

Non-fossil natural resources have in common with fossil resources that they are not found everywhere. In fact, they are sometimes more concentrated in just a few countries. which determines New geopolitical problemsIt was discovered in 2010-2011 after restrictions on the export of rare earth elements were imposed by China, which is practically a global monopoly on the supply of these minerals. Prices temporarily increased by 2,000-10,000 percent – Compagnoni recalls -. It was precisely that incident that brought to the attention of the European Union the issue of its dependence on the import of mineral resources, with the drafting of a list Critical Raw Materials (CRM)The primary factors of production for the economic sectors are of paramount importance, but are subject to high supply risks, due to the strong concentration of mining and refining activities.

A way to make rare earth elements (and related) less rare Increased mining activity, including in Europe. In January, for example, the news came that a deposit of rare earths had been discovered in Sweden (Here is the article By Michela Rovelli (for login). But, firstly, mining brings environmental challenges due to the production of toxic waste. Secondly, perhaps we should not ignore the fact that, as Compagnoni points out, Extractive activities often lead to negative social consequences for the local population, especially in developing countries: rare economic repercussions, health impacts, and inadequate working conditions. Last Peruvian miners protests (Moreover, leading a Marxist party against the Chinese mining giant MMG, ed.), for example, testifies to this (Here is an article By Roberto Saviano for 7 on the war in the Congo for cobalt and coltan). Third, of course, you cannot extract resources where there aren’t any.

A way not to abolish but to mitigate the problems of, specifically, the circular economy. Whose advertising slogan could be, which says: From what generates what. It should aim to recover materials at the end of their life cycle on an industrial scale. The European Union itself, in the Circular Economy Action Plan (2020) for emphasis The strategic importance of recycling Crm-containing waste, such as electronic waste and batteries. Unfortunately, on this front, things are not going as well as they should be. Crm’s recovery – Compagnoni writes – remains anemic in terms of replacement demand for virgin raw materials. Why? On the other hand, the recovery of certain materials is complicated by the design of electronic equipment, which is not aligned with the goals of recycling or extending product life, and its complexity in terms of material composition, which in turn is due to its increased functionality. On the other hand, Strategic waste collection rates are still relatively low. Finally, there is the development stage of Crm recovery technologies, which in many cases have not reached industrialization (also valid, as we have seen, for the discovery of the German group reported by Vigna).

All of this, however, should motivate us not to give up, but to accelerate. The circular economy is the only way to effectively increase the EU’s autonomy, also in light of the desired energy transition in developing countries. But not always – warns Compagnoni – “zero kilometer” is the answer to sustainability. Supporting the development of (at least) strategic waste recycling networks within Europe can achieve economies of scale and encourage the development of specific, more advanced CRM recovery technologies, with the aim of allocating countries on the basis of comparative advantages.

what should be done Stop making developing countries look like dumping grounds for developed countries. Trade regulations, such as the Basel Convention (1992) and the EU Waste Shipment Regulations (2006), have attempted to reduce large or more or less legal direct flows of waste from developed countries to poor countries. With a revision of the Waste Shipping Regulation, currently being discussed, the hope for both the EU and the recycling industry – and Compagnoni concludes – is that it can facilitate trade in waste, making recycling more competitive, discouraging illegal flows and ensuring environmental standards in Europe and export countries. .

Subscribe to the Economics newsletter

Whatever it cost him Federico Fubini

Challenges of the economy and markets in an unstable world

Europe Matters by Francesca Basso and Viviana Mazza

Europe, the United States and Italy matter, with important innovations and decisions, but also important little stories

Another thing by Massimo Cediri

From the world of science and technology innovation, news that changes our lives (more than we think)

And don’t forget about newsletters
economic opinions And Economy 6 p.m