Title

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

Journal title

Gospodarka Surowcami Mineralnymi - Mineral Resources Management

Yearbook

2016

Numer

No 4

Publication authors

Baolu Zhou ; Zhongxue Li ; Yiqing Zhao ; Cong Zhang ; Yixin Wei

Divisions of PAS

Nauki Techniczne

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>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.</jats:p>

Publisher

Instytut Gospodarki Surowcami Mineralnymi i Energią PAN ; Komitet Zrównoważonej Gospodarki Surowcami Mineralnymi PAN

Date

2016

Identifier

ISSN 0860-0953

DOI

10.1515/gospo-2016-0039