Mining’s key role in a net zero future
Mining will be vital to help renewable energy technologies flourish and achieve greenhouse gas emission targets.
Published on the 18 September 2024
More, not less, mining will be needed in the future to help achieve the goal of net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
That is the view of Professor Ismet Canbulat, head of the School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering at UNSW Sydney. This is based on the amount of critical minerals that we need to manufacture things like solar panels, electric vehicle batteries and magnets for wind turbines.
For example, an electric car needs around six times more critical minerals – elements such as lithium, copper, graphite, zinc, cobalt, copper, and nickel – compared to a conventional gas-powered vehicle.
“As soon as you talk to the public about mining, the first thing that comes to their mind is coal mining. But what many people don't realise is that mining is also necessary for renewable energy technologies,” said Professor Canbulat.
Failure to mine critical minerals will create a bottleneck for the net-zero future, making renewable energy technologies more expensive and therefore less likely to be widely implemented.
“The sixfold increase in the need for critical minerals can only happen with increased productivity, increased resource recovery, and then increased investment into mining operations.
“And obviously, that means there will be many more mines opening up in Australia and elsewhere.”
“There will be a lot of challenges, particularly around increased production. Increased production means we will have to do more selective mining with much less waste and then much faster than what we are doing right now.”
Rae O'Brien, executive general manager of mining excellence with Centennial Energy Company, hopes public perception of mining improves as awareness grows about the minerals needed for renewable energy technologies.
“This transition to a net zero carbon economy is driving a huge demand for electrification minerals,” she said.
“I accept there's not a lot of real knowledge from the general public. But if it's not grown, it's mined pretty much. Everything you use every day comes from mining in some way.
“I think people are starting to change. Even in the last six months, people have realised that we need mining for this (energy) transition. We can't do it without it.”
Prof. Canbulat hopes people will start to understand how important the industry is to the greener energy future.
“The mining industry is changing and there's been so much improvement in responsible mining operations compared to 20 years ago,” he said.
“What we need to change is going (more) into environmentally friendly, sustainable mining practises, and looking after the communities. That will basically bring people into believing that yes, we need mining.
“I think the public's perception towards mining is changing. And whichever way we look at, the mining industry will be required to support the renewable industries.”
* Professor Ismet Canbulat and Rae O’Brien were in conversation as part of the Engineering the Future Podcast series.
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