Courtesy : eiden-delft-erasmus.nl
Green material whitepaper
Seven scientists from the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities wrote the whitepaper ‘Critical materials, green energy and geopolitics: a complex mix’, offering science-based knowledge and strategies for achieving these aims. The paper has now become available.
From fossil fuels to rare earth metals
The paper describes the energy transition as a switch from fossil fuels to metals such as iron, copper, lithium and rare earth metals. These metals are needed for producing the required wind turbines, solar panels, electrolysers and batteries, making them critical materials for achieving the energy transition.
Currently, the Netherlands and the EU must import the bulk of these materials, making us dependent on other countries.
Dr René Kleijn, of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability that initiated the paper, asked scientists from various disciplines to share their vision.
Kleijn: ‘We discuss the current circumstances regarding access to these raw materials by the Netherlands and the EU, and how we can establish a strong and independent basis for the energy transition.’
The costs of raw materials independency
The researchers express their concerns regarding the feasibility of the energy transition in the current geopolitical context – discussing market deficiencies and market strengths as well as the real financial and social costs of realising an independence from imported raw materials.
They stress the need for immediate action – offering historical lessons, opportunities for the recovery and reuse of raw materials, and new financial mechanisms as potential solutions for reaching our green targets.
Dr Elise Blondel of the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for Sustainability, who coordinated the paper, emphasises the importance of a broad perspective for addressing the challenges of the energy transition.
‘The Centre for Sustainability facilitates interdisciplinary research and education, unlimited by the boundaries of specific professional domains. We address the major challenges of our time by integrating the knowledge of various scientific experts and professional specialists. This way, we hope to accelerate the transition towards a circular economy.’
