Critical materials as key factor providing efficiency in energy engineering

Abstract

"The energy transition should be planned with critical materials in mind to avoid unforeseen delays. This planning relates to both supply and demand aspects. Better public data are needed regarding the capacity to ramp up mining of primary materials in the coming years. Also, the potential of innovation to avoid or minimise use of critical materials needs to be better understood. This paper will assess how the growth of different types of energy (including nuclear) will put critical materials at the centre of the energy transformation at the international level, with the objective of highlighting the criticalities related to the sector and of identifying how technological developments and innovation can positively reduce geopolitical risks. For Europe’s ambition to deliver the Green Deal the access to resources is a strategic security question. The EU’s open strategic autonomy in these sectors will therefore need to continue to be anchored in diversified and undistorted access to global markets for raw materials. The paper also presents a case study of the exploitation of Romania natural resources."