Our charts are one of the many ways our thought leadership shapes debate around the complex subject of the energy transition. The chart below can be found in our report Materials and Resource Requirements for the Energy Transition.
Which raw materials are most used in clean energy technology?
The availability of raw materials crucial for the energy transition hinges on two key factors: the cumulative demand over the transition period and the annual demand versus potential supply.
Materials like copper, steel, nickel, and aluminium are in high demand across various clean energy technologies, driven not only by the transition but also by other industrial and consumer uses.
Conversely, materials like lithium and polysilicon are more specific to certain clean energy technologies, such as batteries and solar panels, with the transition being the primary driver of demand.
This chart, from our Material and Resource Requirements for the Energy Transition report, maps the relative importance of key raw materials in clean energy technologies and their other uses.
This exhibit was published in the ETC’s report Materials and Resource Requirements for the Energy Transition.
If you would like to reproduce this chart, please let us know.
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