Publication

Q&A | Critical Minerals Demand Growth in the Net-Zero Scenario

The clean energy transition will drive considerable critical minerals demand growth. If critical minerals production and processing supply cannot keep up with the accelerating adoption of batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, and solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies, the global energy system transformation could be meaningfully delayed. In this Q&A, the authors draw on the data underlying the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions report, Net Zero Emissions (NZE) Scenario in its Net Zero by 2050 report, and Energy Technology Perspectives 2023 to explore what it will take to supply the technologies for achieving a net-zero emissions energy system by 2050.

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