Abstract
Lithium is a key component in green energy storage technologies and is rapidly becoming a metal of crucial importance to the European Union. The different industrial uses of lithium are discussed in this review along with a compilation of the locations of the main geological sources of lithium. An emphasis is placed on lithium’s use in lithium ion batteries and their use in the electric vehicle industry. The electric vehicle market is driving new demand for lithium resources. The expected scale-up in this sector will put pressure on current lithium supplies. The European Union has a burgeoning demand for lithium and is the second largest consumer of lithium resources. Currently, only 1–2% of worldwide lithium is produced in the European Union (Portugal). There are several lithium mineralisations scattered across Europe, the majority of which are currently undergoing mining feasibility studies. The increasing cost of lithium is driving a new global mining boom and should see many of Europe’s mineralisation’s becoming economic. The information given in this paper is a source of contextual information that can be used to support the European Union’s drive towards a low carbon economy and to develop the field of research.
Highlights
Presented is a review of the available literature regarding the industrial uses and sources of lithium, with a focus on the European Union (EU) and electric vehicle (EV) market
This paper provides an up to-date overview of the literature in this specific area and brings together relevant material from various sources
In 2016, China was by far the largest electric car market, accounting for more than 40% of the electric cars sold in the world, and more than double the amount sold in the United States [206]
Summary
Presented is a review of the available literature regarding the industrial uses and sources of lithium, with a focus on the European Union (EU) and electric vehicle (EV) market. The work organises the literature in order to review and evaluate the state of the art in this field of research. There is a trend in the literature showing an increasing amount of interest by both developed and developing countries in previously uneconomic mineralisations of lithium globally. We present detailed information on historic and new lithium mineralisations. The main industrial uses of lithium have been collated. This work is designed to highlight and summarise research findings regarding lithium’s use, presence in the environment, mining, and occurrence. The impetus for lithium’s future recycling is discussed as a requirement for a future sustainable circular lithium economy [1]
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