New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Building batteries better
26/7/2023
6 min read
Feature
Batteries, including those needed for electric vehicles (EVs), are vital for the energy transition; demand for them is only growing. However, this means more mining for minerals – with significant environmental consequences. Jordan Brinn, a clean vehicles and infrastructure advocate at the US Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), explains how we can improve mineral mining and reduce overall demand through reuse and recycling.
Meeting global climate goals and reducing harmful air pollution requires a shift away from fossil fuel-powered vehicles and toward more plug-in electric cars, trucks and buses. This transition has already started.
Some 10mn EVs were sold last year, accounting for 14% of global vehicle sales, according to the International Energy Agency. That number is forecast to accelerate quickly, with EV sales set to jump by 35% this year.
EVs require large rechargeable batteries, and those batteries contain minerals that must be mined – specifically lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite. And mineral mines can contaminate surrounding waters and ecosystems, jeopardise the health and safety of local communities and workers, and run roughshod over sacred Indigenous lands.