More, not less, mining will be needed in the future to help achieve the goal of net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. That is the view of Professor Ismet Canbulat, head of the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering at UNSW Sydney, based on the amount of critical minerals that need to be mined from the ground to help manufacture things like solar panels, electric vehicle batteries and magnets for wind turbines. For example, an electric car needs around six times more critical minerals – elements such as lithium, copper, graphite, zinc, cobalt, copper, and nickel – compared to a conventional gas-powered vehicle. And Prof. Canbulat, who was in discussion as part of UNSW’s ‘Engineering the Future’ podcast series, says failure to mine those minerals will not only delay the development of such renewable energy technologies, but also make them more expensive and therefore less likely to be widely implemented. Professor Ismet Canbulat, Head of the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering at UNSW. Image from UNSW “As soon as you talk to public about mining, first thing that comes to their mind is coal mining. But they don't realise the fact that mining is also necessary for renewable energy technologies,” he said. “If we can't produce those critical minerals itwill be a bottleneck for the net carbon zero future. And if they become expensive, that means the energy will be very, very expensive as well. “So we need to be able to produce them at a reasonable cost and obviously, sell them at a reasonable cost, so they can get implemented in renewable energy technologies. “How is that sixfold increase (in the need for critical minerals) going to happen? That can only happen with increased productivity, increased resource recovery, and then increased investment into mining operations. “And obviously, that means there will be many more mines opening up in Australia and elsewhere to be able to provide those critical minerals into the market. “There will be a lot of challenges, particularly around increased production. Increased production means we will have to do more selective mining with much less waste and then much faster and much more productive than what we have right now.” Joining Prof. Canbulat on the ‘Engineering the Future of Mining’ podcast episode was Rae O'Brien, executive general manager of mining excellence with Centennial Energy Company. Rae O'Brien, executive general manager of mining excellence at Centennial Energy Company. Image supplied She hopes that the public perception of mining is starting to change as people realise how many important minerals need to be extracted from the ground in order to meet the massive increase in demand for renewable energy technologies. “This transition to a low carbon or a net zero carbon economy is driving a huge demand for electrification minerals,” she said. “I accept there's not a lot of real knowledge from the general public. But if it's not grown, it's mined pretty much. Everything you use every day comes from mining in some way. “I think people are starting to change. Even in the last six months, people have realised that we need mining for this (energy) transition. We can't do it without it. “Rare earth (minerals) are called rare earth because they're rare! They occur in parts per million, which means you've got to move millions of tonnes of dirt just to get a kilogram of material. From an energy perspective, it's actually a really big challenge. But it can’t happen without mining.” Prof. Canbulat accepts that mining needs to become more environmentally friendly over the next two decades, but hopes people will start to understand how important the industry is to the greener energy future. He believes big improvements have already been made in mining practices. “The mining industry is changing and there's been so much improvement in responsible mining operations compared to 20 years ago for example,” he said. “What we need to change is going (more) into environmentally friendly, sustainable mining practises, and looking after the communities. That will basically bring people into believing that yes, we need mining. “I think the public's perception towards mining is changing. And whichever way we look at, the mining industry will be required to support the renewable industries.” * Professor Ismet Canbulat and Rae O’Brien were in conversation as part of the Engineering the Future Podcast series.
FAQs
How mining and renewable energy go hand in hand on the road to net zero? ›
Mining is key to the net-zero transition for its role in extracting the critical minerals essential to green tech, like batteries and renewable energy. But as early as 2030, our mines will produce only about half of the cobalt and lithium and around 80% of copper required.
What is the role of renewable energy in achieving net zero emissions? ›As a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide traps heat in the earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In contrast, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power don't produce carbon emissions as part of the electricity generation process. Instead they harness the natural energy from the sun and the weather.
How does renewable energy help reduce carbon footprint? ›Renewable energy sources – which are available in abundance all around us, provided by the sun, wind, water, waste, and heat from the Earth – are replenished by nature and emit little to no greenhouse gases or pollutants into the air.
How do we reach net zero? ›Put simply, net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that's produced and the amount that's removed from the atmosphere. It can be achieved through a combination of emission reduction and emission removal.
How does mining affect energy? ›Mining consumes gigantic amounts of energy. The energy consumption of the world's mining industry corresponds to 80 percent of the world's electricity use.
Do renewable energy sources have zero environmental impacts? ›Power generated by renewable sources, such as wind, water, and sunlight, does not produce harmful carbon dioxide emissions that lead to climate change, which causes drought, wildfires, flooding, poverty, health risks, species loss, and more.
When must net zero buildings get all their energy for operations from renewable sources? ›Net Zero Energy Building means that a building balances its energy needs with energy produced from renewable, zero-emission sources.
Is renewable energy actually better for the environment? ›Environmental and economic benefits of using renewable energy include: Generating energy that produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution. Diversifying energy supply and reducing dependence on imported fuels.
What is an example of a net zero strategy? ›Example of a net-zero company
The tech giant pledged to be carbon negative by 2030, meaning it plans to remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits. Further, by 2050, Microsoft aims to have removed all the carbon it has emitted since its inception in 1975.
Scientists say it is possible to swiftly transform the ways we produce and consume energy. To show the way forward, researchers have set out paths toward a world where human activities generate little to no carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases — a decarbonized economy.
Why net zero is not enough? ›
Net zero is merely a sticking plaster that will not save the world from catastrophic climate change, argues Colin Summerhayes. To compensate for the loss of Earth's refrigerator and the oceanic release of CO2, we must aim for negative emissions and we must act now.
What are 3 positive effects of mining? ›- Mining yields our economy a big capital and involves the use of the country's resources.
- Mining uplifts the economy.
- Mining provides raw materials for the construction of building structures.
- Mining removes the problem of unemployment as it provide job to a large number of people.
Non-renewable resources, such as those obtained from mining, are particularly problematic in the sustainability context due to their inherently finite quantity.
Is renewable energy completely clean? ›Renewable energy is in theory inexhaustible. It means that there is a continual source of energy. However, renewable energy isn't always clean. Some renewable energy sources do emit pollutants over the threshold of what is considered “clean”.
What is the role of energy efficiency in net zero? ›While renewables are a key part of the transition to net zero, the IEA calls energy efficiency the "first fuel" of the green transition as it offers a quick and cost-effective solution to reducing planet-heating emissions.
What is the role of renewable energy? ›Renewable energy comes from unlimited, naturally replenished resources, such as the sun, tides, and wind. Renewable energy can be used for electricity generation, space and water heating and cooling, and transportation. Non-renewable energy, in contrast, comes from finite sources, such as coal, natural gas, and oil.
What is the role of renewable energy in reducing GHG emissions? ›The use of renewable energy can significantly reduce the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere and help combat the negative impacts of climate change. By transitioning to a low-carbon energy mix, we can also reduce the risk of extreme weather events.
What is the role of renewable energy in ESG? ›The ESG Imperative
Environmental considerations, particularly, focus on a company's impact on the planet. This is where renewable energy steps in. Transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydro power is vital for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.