EU risks running out of metals for energy transition, report says

To achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, the EU will need 35 times more lithium than today, but also 26 times more rare earths, twice as much nickel, and more aluminium.

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Will we have the metals needed for the energy transition?

A new report published on Monday April 25 announces that the European Union could have shortages by 2030 of certain metals such as lithium, cobalt or nickel, and that it must quickly restock to be able to ensure the energy transition which she hopes. 

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The European Union wants to turn to green energies and that requires a lot of different metals.

Researchers at KU Leuven University have calculated that to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, the EU will need, for example, 35 times more lithium than today.

It will also require 26 times more

, twice as much nickel, and more aluminum.

However, these metals are essential to build our equipment of tomorrow: from electric cars to wind turbine rotors and solar panels.

The risk is to replace our dependence on hydrocarbons with another dependence on these metals.

For aluminum or nickel, Europe relies heavily on Russia, which is a major world exporter.

And China or Indonesia are expected to dominate the refining of battery metals in the next ten years.

Reusable metals

very quickly

, to be less dependent by 2030. But there is good news all the same: unlike fossil fuels, metals are reusable. .

And the European lack could also be covered by recycling.

Thus, by 2050, recycled metals could equip three quarters of the batteries of vehicles made in Europe.

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• European Union

• Raw materials

• Environment

• Energies