Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis’ Post

Few #Keyhighlights from our study on Graphite #valuechain - Mineral Security Partnership (#MSP) countries are net importers - Modelled graphite demand scenarios point to opportunity for MSP countries - Geographical concentration of #mineownership is the primary factor limiting graphite supply, raising concerns of availability and criticality. You can access link of the study report, led by Aditya Ramji, PhD on the comments. Also, keep an eye on our website for other studies on #criticalmineral #supplychain

[ 🔎 Focus on… ] The Dilemma of Rare and Critical Metals Rare and critical metals are the raw materials necessary for the development of digital technologies and the energy transition: ➡️ Extraction and Refining: A Chinese Monopoly? ➡️ Is the Metal Market Volatile? ➡️ Are We Moving Towards More Sustainability? ➡️ And in terms of stock market investments, who is most at risk? 💡 Find out more in my latest article ! https://lnkd.in/eF-c6zzW

One of the great things about working in M&A across all sectors is the variety of insight it gives you into what is happening in the world at different levels of industry. One current M&A theme is future copper supplies, and reducing interest in platinum group metals. The reducing value of platinum group metal miners (Ruthenium, Rhodium, Palladium, Osmium, Iuridium and Platinum: mainly used in catalytic converters to reduce pollutants from petrol and diesel engines), and increased interest in copper is all driven by the expected energy transition over the coming years: who will need platinum group metals when internal combustion engines are no longer manufactured? Conversely, copper is the metal of electronic systems - as we electrify everything, demand must surely increase. The lead time for exploration is long and expensive so many miners believe buying existing sites is the best bet, enabling them to capitalise on soaring prices in coming years. Here is an interesting insight into copper futures if you are interested in such things.

New Report: Ahead of the game: investor sentiment on steel decarbonisation by Aaliyah Rogan; Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) The global steel industry, traditionally seen as a 'hard-to-abate' sector, is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Recent research by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (ACCR) highlights a significant shift towards less carbon-intensive steelmaking. This shift is driven by advancements in technology, innovation, and policy settings. To gauge investor perspectives on this green revolution, ACCR conducted a global survey involving 500 investors from 34 countries, all with stakes in steelmaking, iron ore, and metallurgical coal mining. The main Outcomes include: * Green Steel Without Fossil Fuels: A resounding 81% of investors believe that ‘green steel’ cannot be produced using fossil fuels. This underscores a clear investor expectation for companies to pursue genuinely green steel solutions. * Transition Away from Metallurgical Coal: 68% of investors foresee a shift away from metallurgical coal in steelmaking, with 80% predicting an increased risk profile for coal over the next decade. This sentiment challenges companies expanding or prolonging metallurgical coal assets. * Support for Green Iron Imports: 59% of investors support importing green iron to regions with limited renewable energy capacity. This could position countries like Australia and Brazil, where green hydrogen production is more cost-effective, as key exporters to steelmakers in nations like Japan. * The Role of Effective Climate Policies: 59% of investors agree that robust climate policies are essential for accelerating the green steel transition and positively impacting their portfolios. This highlights the need for ambitious policies to remove barriers to green steel adoption. * Investor vs. Company Lobbying: Over half (52%) of investors recognize that company lobbying sustains the use of metallurgical coal in steelmaking. Interestingly, 45% are engaging in counter-lobbying efforts, aware of the contradiction between such lobbying and coal's increasing risk profile. This report is a testament to the growing investor appetite for the green steel transformation, often outpacing policymakers and companies. It underscores the crucial role of effective frameworks and ambitious policies in driving the decarbonization of the steel sector. The report can be downloaded from the following link: https://lnkd.in/gAPYveXR #GreenSteel #Sustainability #Decarbonization #Investment #ClimateAction #SteelIndustry #RenewableEnergy #SustainableFuture

Raw material for solar cells is high purity silicon. The solar cell is in the form of thin wafers/chips. Silicon cell life ranges from 5 to 8 years. Silicon has an advantage that it is quite cheap as it is available in abundance. Cobalt in Cars:- Enhanced Energy Density: Cobalt, particularly when combined with nickel, contributes to higher energy density in lithium-ion batteries. This translates to longer driving ranges and improved performance for electric vehicles. Manganese: It has elemental qualities that have the potential to improve density, capacity, rechargeability, safety and battery longevity #ev #supplychain #solarpanel #purchase #electricvehicle

Our recent paper, "Estimating price elasticity of demand for mineral commodities used in Lithium-ion batteries in the face of surging demand," co-authored with Elisa Alonso and Nedal Nassar, is now available in Resources, Conservation & Recycling. We estimate price elasticities of demand for key minerals in lithium-ion battery cathodes and anodes, like cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and nickel, amidst structural shifts from electric vehicle sales growth. The price elasticity values can be used for criticality and supply/demand models to better evaluate the responsiveness of commodity demand (potentially through substitution or thrifting for example) to price changes.

The production of nickel, a key material for electric vehicle batteries, can produce vastly different volumes of CO2 emissions depending on the type of nickel mined and the processes used for processing. Processing of nickel sulphide deposits, like those in Australia and Canada, emits fewer tonnes of CO2, not to mention it involves less land disturbance thanks to largely underground mining. This is compared to nickel laterite processing, which uses much more energy and therefore carbon intensive processes along with other environmental impacts such as deforestation, habitat destruction and soil erosion. As detailed in this Elements article, with data from Wood Mackenzie showing Scope 1 and 2 emissions, "environmentally responsible practices in the extraction and processing of nickel are essential to ensure the sustainability of the battery supply chain." Our goal is to deliver clean nickel from our high-grade nickel sulphide ore bodies, which is essential to the clean energy transition. Read more: https://buff.ly/3svuhxR

🌊🔋 Getting freshwater and from the brine generating sustainable metals! Researchers are unlocking the potential of seawater and desalination brine to extract valuable metals like lithium and magnesium. This innovative method, championed by companies such as Magrathea Metals, promises significant environmental and economic benefits. Key Highlights: Innovative Extraction: Magrathea Metals uses a carbon-neutral process to extract magnesium. Economic Potential: Desalination brine contains materials worth an estimated $2.2 trillion. Environmental Impact: The process uses less land and produces less pollution compared to traditional mining methods. These efforts support the transition to a circular economy and reduce reliance on traditional, environmentally damaging mining techniques. The extracted metals are crucial for various industries, including renewable energy and electronics, highlighting the dual benefits of economic growth and environmental stewardship. Additionally, the integration of this technology in existing desalination plants can make these facilities more profitable and efficient, transforming waste into valuable resources. This approach exemplifies how innovation can drive sustainability, making it possible to meet increasing material demands without further depleting natural resources. Explore more about this transformative technology and its implications for the future of mining and sustainability: Yale E360. #Sustainability #Innovation #GreenTech #Mining #RenewableEnergy #CircularEconomy #Metals #Desalination @YaleE360 #magnesium https://lnkd.in/gyJpt3Ph

Mysteel daily reporting on China lithium-ion market 20240226 Highlight:  For #lithiumcarbonate, some downstream players stockpiled appropriately post the Chinese New Year holiday, and the demand for industrial grade lithium carbonate improved. The futures prices rose quickly in the second half of last week as the environmental protection investigation in Jiangxi Province stirred the nerves of the market players, which lifted the spot prices. But the downstream players were wait-and-see. The smelters have gradually resumed the production, but were slow in making quotations. It is expected that the lithium carbonate prices will remain rangebound with potential drops in the near term. https://lnkd.in/gmgiB_gV #lithium #cobalt #nickel #batteryrecycling #lithiumion #powerbattery #NEV #newenergyvehicles #lithiumionbatteries #lithium #newenergy

𝑯𝒖𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈? 💡I suggest reading this thought-provoking article '𝗦𝗼, 𝗜𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘂𝗺?' authored by 𝑫𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒋 𝑵𝒂𝒚𝒚𝒂𝒓 & 𝑮𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝑺𝒆𝒏, which was recently featured in 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬." 🔩 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Despite being less glamorous than rare earth metals, copper plays a crucial role in decarbonization efforts and supply chains. 👉🏻 It is used in electric conductors for batteries (both EVs and solar panels), electrical equipment, construction, and transportation. 🚗 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 (𝐄𝐕𝐬): EVs require significantly more raw copper (83 kg) compared to conventional fuel-driven cars (23 kg). 👉🏻 Additionally, an average household's annual copper requirement is around 21 kg. 🥊𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: The quality of copper ore has declined, and environmental standards are not being met. Mining projects face delays due to environmental protests. 🔬 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: As technology landscapes evolve, copper's diverse applications make it a metal to watch for the future. 🖊️ 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭: Lithium-ion batteries are crucial for energy storage, but copper's role in the broader energy transition is gaining prominence. - 𝑴𝒄𝑲𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒚 report predicts that the copper market will be in a deficiency as the demand will outstrip supply in 2031. #investinginsights #assetmanagement #riskanalysis #businessvaluation