The increasing reliance on weather-dependent energy sources necessitates not only the production of wind turbines and solar panels, but also robust energy storage capacity and the electronics required to manage it effectively. This demand for infrastructure is highlighted by experts like Petr Dušek, who points to the growing challenges in grid regulation and backup power requirements. Crucially, lithium and other metals – particularly cobalt and nickel – are essential components in these storage solutions, mirroring the needs of the electric vehicle industry.
Lithium
Currently, the majority of the world’s lithium supply is sourced from salt flats and brine deposits. Australia, Chile, and China are the leading producers. A promotional video showcases lithium extraction in South America, where salt layers lie close to the surface. The process involves dissolving the salts in freshwater, then pumping and drying the resulting solution in large, shallow basins. This method can be susceptible to delays due to rainfall, impacting supply timelines. The process essentially irrigates some of the world’s driest deserts, not to grow vegetation, but to obtain lithium. While other elements, such as bor, are also extracted from these salts, lithium remains the most economically significant.
Lithium deposits also exist in the Czech Republic, notably in Cínovec, where the lithium-bearing mineral zinnwaldite is found. Extraction could be carried out with minimal environmental impact, utilizing rail and cable car transport, and employing a virtually waste-free processing method. However, two major obstacles exist: local community protests, fueled by “Not In My Backyard” (NIMBY) sentiments and broader opposition to mining driven by environmental advocacy, and the constraints imposed by the Green Deal and carbon neutrality ideologies.
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The Green Deal’s regulations and the pursuit of carbon neutrality add significant costs. Establishing mining and processing facilities requires energy and generates emissions – including those from limestone decomposition during concrete production and carbon reduction in steel manufacturing – all of which are subject to emissions permit pricing.
lithium constitutes only about 1% of the mass of zinnwaldite. The economic viability of the process may therefore depend on utilizing other components, primarily potassium, which accounts for approximately 10% of the mineral’s weight and can be separated during the same process. Potassium salts are primarily used in fertilizers, and until recently, Belarus was a major supplier. While the necessity of artificial fertilizers is generally accepted, the Green Deal’s approach is not necessarily rational. Uncertainty surrounding potential restrictions on fertilizer use from Brussels further complicates long-term planning for potassium extraction from zinnwaldite. Other accompanying elements in zinnwaldite, such as rubidium and cesium, could discover applications in the glass, ceramics, or oil extraction industries – sectors currently facing an uncertain future under the Green Deal.
The Cínovec example illustrates how the pursuit of carbon neutrality can stifle economic activity, not only through expensive permits but also through cumbersome bureaucracy that surpasses even central planning. This impacts both basic industries and the production of modern technologies, including “green” technologies, and hinders the extraction of necessary raw materials.
Specifically, the production of electronic components – including photovoltaic panels and modern batteries – requires highly purified materials, necessitating energy-intensive refinement processes. Silicon, the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, requires significant energy to separate from oxygen. Large amounts of pure water are also consumed. A proposed “Gigafactory” for lithium battery production near Plzeň (Líně) would have consumed 300 liters of water per second, compared to the 450-500 liters per second used by the entire city of Plzeň (excluding industries using untreated water).
Cobalt, Nickel, and Even “Ordinary” Copper
Electrifying road transport will require substantial quantities of not only lithium (approximately 10 kg per passenger vehicle) but also copper (over 80 kg per electric car, compared to around 25 kg in a conventional vehicle) and cobalt. The Democratic Republic of Congo dominates cobalt mining, along with a significant portion of copper production, within the “Copperbelt” region. Child labor is a known issue in this area. Recent reports have shown footage of a deadly landslide at a copper and cobalt mine in the Congo, resulting in at least 80 fatalities.
However, it’s unlikely that mining of these metals would shift to Europe even if African suppliers were compelled to adhere to stringent safety and environmental standards. European copper reserves are nearly depleted, and cobalt resources are similarly limited. The remaining reserves in Europe cannot compete with the vast deposits in Africa or South America. China’s control over much of the organized mining in Africa adds another layer of complexity. A small consolation is that cobalt and nickel can be partially substituted with manganese, which is available in deposits like Chvaletice, where previously extracted manganese was thoughtfully stockpiled separately during pyrite mining.
Selenium, Tellurium, Indium…and What About Cadmium?
Rarer and very rare elements are also needed in other applications, such as neodymium magnets in wind turbines, and copper selenides, indium, and gallium in thin-film photovoltaic panels. The question of recycling these panels remains open. The use of cadmium telluride also presents a challenge: while tellurium is one of the rarest elements, cadmium is highly toxic. Despite this, cadmium telluride is often considered the most environmentally friendly option for thin-film cells, as it requires less energy to produce than alternatives (such as selenides or highly purified silicon)…
The World Isn’t Black and White
We are not suggesting that the use of fossil fuels and nuclear energy is without its own problems, but rather highlighting the fact that the world is not black and white, and even “renewable” sources are not as clean as proponents of “OZE at all costs” policies claim. Or, put another way – some environmental impact is unavoidable, so even traditional sources, such as desulfurized coal, or nuclear power plants, are not as “dirty” as often portrayed. The issue of raw materials is complex, and rectifying the damage caused by incompetent political decisions is often difficult and time-consuming. Banning or mandating certain technologies often hinders the more versatile use of rare earth resources and can lead to not only extreme price increases but also to the extraction of materials in unsuitable conditions and the accumulation of difficult-to-use waste.
