World transitions to net zero emissions boost demand for many minerals and metals

The world’s population is growing faster than at any time in history, and mineral consumption is growing faster than population as more consumers enter the market for minerals and as the global standard of living increases.

As the world transitions towards net zero emissions, the rapid scale-up of clean energy technologies is expected to boost demand for many minerals and metals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper, aluminium and rare earth elements.

For many years China has lead the world in investment’s and now near 80 per cent of the entire supply chain for electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries, and therefore energy storage, is on their hands.

“I would like once again to urge entrepreneurs to enter the lithium-refining business,” Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk told analysts in July. “There’s lithium pretty much everywhere, but you have to refine the lithium into battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, which has extremely high purity. So it is basically like minting money right now.” Elon Musk said.

Green Energy Storage May be one of the most important Technology in the World Rig.
Nickel is the gold of the future. Tesla has signed contracts worth around US$5 billion to buy nickel for its batteries from nickel-processing companies in Indonesia.

Tesla has been working on a high nickel cathode battery that has zero cobalt content. By using nickel Tesla can get a 15 per cent reduction in the cost of its battery cathodes on a US dollar per kilowatt hour basis.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk says, “Tesla doesn’t have enough cells to put new products like Semi truck into production. Tesla battery needs 50kg of nickel, to power 2 billion cars with new batteries 100 million tons of nickel is needed”.

Musk said that “Tesla will reach production of 20 million vehicles per year before 2030”.
The global electric automobile market share is increasing and is forecast to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years. Some predictions suggest they will make up more than 90% of vehicles by 2050, most of which will be powered by nickel-containing Li-ion batteries and magnesium batteries.
Using nickel in car batteries offers greater energy density and storage at lower cost, delivering a longer range for vehicles, currently one of the restraints to EV uptake.
Batteries for storage:

 Sahit Muja said ; “Albanian Minerals has forges new strategy to secure EV supply chain minerals. Albanian Minerals has been positioning itself to become key suppliers of green magnesium, and it’s now turning its focus and investment’s to battery ingredient minerals including nickel, cobalt, lithium and graphite.

The global conversion to EV, renewable green energy are central to the world’s clean energy future. The demand for essential minerals are changing as a new range of commodities are sought. Miners need to plan strategically for the new green future”.

Mr: Muja said that; “The new green transition presents a significant opportunity for Albanian Minerals as we have significant reserves of essential minerals including cobalt and nickel in are portfolio”.

New nickel-containing battery technology is also playing a role in energy storage systems linked to renewable energy sources. Wind turbines or solar panels generate electricity when the wind or sun is available; modern battery technology allows this energy to be stored for use as and when required.

There are about 3,000 nickel-containing alloys in everyday use, including 300,000 products for consumer, industrial, military, transport, aerospace, marine and architectural applications.
The nickel metal is tough, corrosion resistant, hygienic and 100% recyclable. It is essential to building and infrastructure, chemical production, communications, energy supply, environmental protection and food preparation.

Nickel is combined with other metals to produce alloys with a combination of properties that provide both ductility and strength at high temperatures.