Tue, 07/20/2021 - 5:42pm
Clean energy may mean less mining for coal, but it also means opening or expanding mines to unearth minerals such as cobalt for use in alloys and batteries, tellurium for solar cells and semiconductors, and germanium for transistors in electronic devices.
That’s according to Dr. Michael Moats, professor and interim chair of materials science and engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, who says reducing carbon emissions from energy systems in the United States will increase the need for metal production by two to six times per kilowatt of energy production.
“We could eventually reach some of our materials needs by recycling, but there is very little to recycle at this point,” says Moats. “So, we’re going to have to bring on new mines to meet the demand.”
Missouri S&T hosts first in series of national critical minerals workshops
therolladailynews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from therolladailynews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Mining Engineering Online
smenet.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smenet.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Mining Engineering Online
smenet.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smenet.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Green energy increases the need for mining and metals production
RDN REPORTS
rdnnews@gmail.com
Clean energy may mean less mining for coal, but it also means opening or expanding mines to unearth minerals such as cobalt for use in alloys and batteries, tellurium for solar cells and semiconductors, and germanium for transistors in electronic devices.
That’s according to Dr. Michael Moats, professor and interim chair of materials science and engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, who says reducing carbon emissions from energy systems in the United States will increase the need for metal production by two to six times per kilowatt of energy production.