DOE dissects critical material supplies for clean energy technologies
S. Himmelstein | September 15, 2023The key materials with a high risk of supply disruption that are integral to wind, solar and other clean have been identified by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The evaluation considers the availability of energy-specific critical and near-critical materials through 2035.
Materials identified as having a high risk of supply disruption include aluminum, cobalt (Co), copper, dysprosium (Dy), electrical steel (grain-oriented steel, non-grain-oriented steel and amorphous steel), fluorine, gallium (Ga), iridium (Ir), lithium (Li), magnesium, natural graphite, neodymium (Nd), nickel, platinum (Pt), praseodymium (Pr), terbium (Tb), silicon and silicon carbide.
Medium-term (2025-2035) criticality matrix. Source: DOE
The rare Earth materials Nd, Pr, Dy and Tb used in magnets in electric vehicle (EV) motors and wind turbine generators continue to be critical. The criticality status of Tb is slightly lower than that for Dy in the short term due to the widespread use of Dy in high-grade magnets and Tb’s present role as a substitute.
Materials used in batteries for EVs and stationary storage are also deemed to be critical. Co maintains its previously assigned critical status and Li now becomes critical in the medium term due to its broader use in different battery chemistries and continuing growth of the EV industry. Natural graphite is a new addition in this assessment and is also found to be critical.
Pt group metals used in hydrogen electrolyzers, including Pt and Ir, are critical due to an increased focus on hydrogen technologies to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. Those used in catalytic converters, such as rhodium and palladium, were eliminated from the critical materials list due to the decreased importance of catalytic converters in the medium term.
Ga continues to be critical due to its use in light-emitting diodes. Its use has increased in magnet manufacturing and in semiconductors in forms such as gallium arsenide or gallium nitride.
Seven of the 38 materials deemed essential to clean energy technologies are found to be critical for clean energy in the short term, while 13 are found to be critical in the medium term. As the energy sector continues to decarbonize, the list of potential materials essential to clean energy technologies will only increase.
It appears that people are still not recognizing the benefits of Generation IV (fast) nuclear reactors. They are much more economical with Uranium than the presently used thermal reactors. Uranium would still remain critical, but what we have already would go perhaps 100 times further. In addition, many of the other elements listed could be lowered in their "criticalness."