scholarly journals Sustainability of emerging energy and transportation technologies is impacted by the coexistence of minerals in nature

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman Elshkaki
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Material Efficiency ◽  
Global Dynamic ◽  
Reduce Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Equivalent

AbstractWind power and electric vehicles can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality. However, these technologies rely on rare metals whose extraction requires large amounts of energy and water and are high in carbon emissions. Here we consider the sustainability of both technologies and the impacts of rare earth elements co-extraction. We use a global dynamic material flow-stock model and several scenarios for rare earth elements demand and supply. Cumulative carbon dioxide equivalent emissions associated with rare earth metals oversupply was between 5.5 and 6.4 times the emissions associated with dysprosium and neodymium production when dysprosium demand was increased. Carbon dioxide equivalent emissions associated with metals extraction and production were equivalent to between 10% and 29% of carbon dioxide emissions reduction through electric vehicle use. Targeting metal rich deposits and increased material efficiency and recycling reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 78%, 39% and 35%, and combined by 90%. Our findings highlight the role of resource efficiency and recycling in enhancing clean energy technologies.

scholarly journals Rare Earth Elements supply vs. clean energy technologies: new problems to be solve

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 29-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baolu Zhou ◽  
Zhongxue Li ◽  
Yiqing Zhao ◽  
Cong Zhang ◽  
Yixin Wei
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Hybrid Electric Vehicles ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Recycling Techniques ◽  
New Strategies

Abstract Rare earth elements (REEs) provide important properties to clean energy technologies such as wind turbine and hybrid electric vehicles. The global REE demand will grow rapidly during the global transformation toward a greener economy in the next decades. This high demand will require a steady supply chain in the long run. China has a monopoly of global REE production and extraction. The global REE supply chain runs the risk of disruption along with Chinese REE policy evolution. To overcome this supply chain vulnerability, new strategies and measures should be adopted to satisfy future REE supply/demand. There is a pressing need to explore REE deposits, develop efficient REE recycling techniques from end-of-life products, improve substitution technologies for REEs, and reduce the number of critical REEs used in devices. Such measures are facing significant challenges due to environmental factors and an unbalanced market, and overcoming them requires efforts from government and REE companies.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Impact of Rare Earth Elements

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Koltun ◽  
A. Tharumarajah
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Energy Use ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Resource Depletion ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Representative System

The diverse properties of rare earth elements have seen broad and growing applications in clean energy technologies, hybrid vehicles, pollution control, optics, refrigeration, and so on. This study presents a “cradle-to-gate” life cycle assessment of the energy use, resource depletion, and global warming potential resulting from the production of rare earth elements (REEs) using the Bayan Obo rare earth operation in Inner Mongolia, China, as a representative system. The study aggregates data from the literature, LCI databases, and reasonable estimations. A novel economic value-based allocation method for the multiple coproducts of the process is proposed. It is found that four of the high priced REEs scandium, europium, terbium, and dysprosium have very high GWPs from production relative to the rest. A mass-based allocation is also provided for comparison. Impacts on immediate local environment from waste streams that can be toxic are not included in this study.

Review of rare earth elements recovery from secondary resources for clean energy technologies: Grand opportunities to create wealth from waste

2020 ◽  
Vol 267 ◽  
pp. 122048 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajesh Kumar Jyothi ◽  
Thriveni Thenepalli ◽  
Ji Whan Ahn ◽  
Pankaj Kumar Parhi ◽  
Kyeong Woo Chung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Secondary Resources ◽  
Energy Technologies

Clean Energy, Climate and Carbon

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J Cook
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Carbon Capture ◽  
Carbon Capture And Storage ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Technology ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Clean Energy Technology

With the general reader in mind, Clean Energy, Climate and Carbon outlines the global challenge of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. It covers the changing concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide through time and its causes, before considering the promise and the limitations of a wide range of energy technologies for decreasing carbon dioxide emissions. Despite the need to decrease carbon dioxide, the fact is that the global use of fossil fuels is increasing and is likely to continue to do so for some decades to come. With this in mind, the book considers in detail, what for many people is the unfamiliar clean energy technology of carbon capture and storage (CCS). How can we capture carbon dioxide from flue gases? How do we transport it? How do we store it in suitable rocks? What are suitable rocks and where do we find them? How do we know the carbon dioxide will remain trapped once it is injected underground? What does CCS cost and how do those costs compare with other technology options? The book also explores the political environment in which the discussion on clean energy technology options is occurring. What will a price on carbon do for technology uptake and what are the prospects of cutting our emissions by 2020 and of making even deeper cuts by 2050? What will the technology mix look like by that time? For people who are concerned about climate change, or who want to learn more about clean energy technologies, including CCS, this is the definitive view of the opportunities and the challenges we face in decreasing emissions despite a seemingly inexorable global increase in energy demand.

scholarly journals ENERGY-RELATED CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION AGRICULTURE: COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT BENCHMARKING TECHNIQUES

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomas Baležentis ◽  
Daiva Makutėnienė
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
European Union ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emission ◽  
Value Added ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Undesirable Output ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Desirable Output ◽  
Low Performance

The literature suggests different approaches towards modelling of the environmental impact caused by the production processes. The present paper attempts to establish a framework for multicriteria comparison of agricultural sectors of the European Union Member States and identify the performance gaps in terms of energy-related carbon dioxide emission. The research relies on the two approaches, viz. the by-production approach and the multi-criteria decision making approach. The environmental performance indicators were evaluated in regards to the desirable output (gross value added), inputs, and the undesirable output (carbon dioxide emission). The results indicate that Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Hungary should attempt to improve their carbon factors by implementing cleaner energy technologies. The combinations of by-production sub-indices suggest that productivity gains are more important for Sweden, Belgium, Poland, and France. Czech Republic, Latvia, and Finland are specific with low performance in terms of both the intended production and the undesirable output. The MCDM approach identified similar trends in performance as suggested by country ranking and correlation analysis.

scholarly journals Possibilities of recovery and separation of rare earth elements

2019 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Dominika Fila
Keyword(s):  
Rare Earth ◽  
Rare Earth Elements ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Oil Refining ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Technology Products ◽  
Low Emission ◽  
Market Situation ◽  
Critical Mineral

Rare earth metals are a group of elements widely used in high technology products. They are included in the group of critical mineral resources for the EU economy. Rare earth elements are found in computers and mobile phones, as well as in low-emission energy technologies. They are also applied in chemical processes as catalysts in the oil refining. Some of them occur even in considerable quantities in the earth's crust but not very often in the concentrations justifying the profitability of their extraction. Additionally, the constantly growing demand and the current market situation cause that alternative resources of rare earth elements recovery are sought after. Therefore, the recovery and separation methods as well as recovery from the secondary sources are becoming more and more important. The following paper presents the possibilities of recovery and separation of rare earth elements from primary and secondary sources.

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