SUBSTITUTION AND SUSTAINABLE MINING - THE EXAMPLE OF LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES

How does substitution affect sustainable mining?

Benefits of Substitution:

• Potential lower cost
• Less conflict related to increased mineral development / mining
• Less reliance on critical and strategic minerals
• Results in the use of non-critical/strategic minerals from existing US mines to promote sustainable mining

Complications with Substitution:

All of these substitutes have potential problems, including cost, electrical efficiency, battery construction, and other complications. Whether the substitutes are more preferable than the conventional battery construction used today will require careful consideration. However, forging ahead with today’s technologies will not take us where we need to be.

How does substitution affect sustainable mining?

Benefits of Substitution:

• Potential lower cost
• Less conflict related to increased mineral development / mining
• Less reliance on critical and strategic minerals
• Results in the use of non-critical/strategic minerals from existing US mines to promote sustainable mining

Complications with Substitution:

All of these substitutes have potential problems, including cost, electrical efficiency, battery construction, and other complications. Whether the substitutes are more preferable than the conventional battery construction used today will require careful consideration. However, forging ahead with today’s technologies will not take us where we need to be.

The Way Forward:

At the present time mining impacts are not being given much consideration in the drive to transition to carbon-free sources of power. Sustainable mining will require lessening the present impacts of mining.

Careful choices of substitutes for present-day battery materials can avoid the use of critical and strategic minerals, promote sustainable mining, and potentially lower battery cost and increase battery efficiency.