We're getting worse at finding key minerals, even as the clean-energy economy demands way, way more of them. I talk with Kurt House, CEO of KoBold Metals, about how to use AI and machine learning to improve mining's hit rate. This one was a real education.
This is not the only example of people trying to meet the projected needs--and without coercion: imagine that!--but incentivized by the prospect of economic reward. Check out The Metals Company (TMC), and invest in it if you wish, as TMC develops its capacity to harvest minerals from deep-ocean floors, with minimal ecological impact. Don't give up hope!
What troubles me when I listen to episodes like this is that demand is always assumed to grow based on current consumption habits. What if a vehicle is produced that needs a much smaller battery and can charge from the sun like the Aptera? It seems some of these assumptions would need to change dramatically. Maybe demand won't be as crazy as some think?
They made a commitment to open a copper mine within the next 10 years; this is reflected in both public statements around the mine/location/region and their fund raise last year ($195M in June specifically to develop this mine). They've started staffing up and making hires in country.
Ongoing core business in exploration with operating companies to develop the claims seems to be the take-away from the conversation here.
Can copper be recycled from all of the POTS lines that are lightly used or not used at all
Lots of key minerals:
https://copperalliance.org/sustainable-copper/about-copper/cu-demand-long-term-availability/
https://www.ecowatch.com/rare-earth-minerals-supply-renewable-energy.html
https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/31/1067444/we-have-enough-materials-to-power-world-with-renewables/
This is not the only example of people trying to meet the projected needs--and without coercion: imagine that!--but incentivized by the prospect of economic reward. Check out The Metals Company (TMC), and invest in it if you wish, as TMC develops its capacity to harvest minerals from deep-ocean floors, with minimal ecological impact. Don't give up hope!
What troubles me when I listen to episodes like this is that demand is always assumed to grow based on current consumption habits. What if a vehicle is produced that needs a much smaller battery and can charge from the sun like the Aptera? It seems some of these assumptions would need to change dramatically. Maybe demand won't be as crazy as some think?
so do they actually started to build a mine anywhere or they just exploring?
They made a commitment to open a copper mine within the next 10 years; this is reflected in both public statements around the mine/location/region and their fund raise last year ($195M in June specifically to develop this mine). They've started staffing up and making hires in country.
Ongoing core business in exploration with operating companies to develop the claims seems to be the take-away from the conversation here.
We will use a tiny fraction of the mining compared to fossil fuels after the transition. https://x.com/AukeHoekstra/status/1737474375207493826?s=20
This reminded me of the efforts to make chocolate more equitably