Copper Recovery Key to Renewable Energy Transition

The transition to renewable energy sources is a pressing need in the face of global warming. Photovoltaic Energy (PV), Wind Power (WP), Electric Vehicles (EV), and Battery Electric Storage Systems (BESS) are crucial for providing and storing renewable energy, but these technologies rely heavily on metals like copper.

Copper is a geologically and economically scarce metal, making it a significant supply risk to global climate goals. As the world moves towards net-zero carbon emissions, the copper industry faces a dilemma: producing enough new marginal copper supply while eliminating its own carbon emissions.

A study suggests that decarbonizing copper mines could compromise the ability to secure global copper supply chains. The emphasis on reducing emissions in the production process may lead to a trade-off between metal recovery and the embedded carbon footprint.