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Assessing Critical Raw Materials and Their Supply Risk in Energy Technologies—A Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco Montana

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Maurizio Cellura

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy
    Centre for Sustainability and Ecological Transition, University of Palermo, Complesso Monumentale dello Steri, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy)

  • Maria Luisa Di Silvestre

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Sonia Longo

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy
    Centre for Sustainability and Ecological Transition, University of Palermo, Complesso Monumentale dello Steri, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy)

  • Le Quyen Luu

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy
    Institute of Science and Technology for Energy and Environment, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, A30 Building, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Cau Giay district, Hanoi 10072, Vietnam)

  • Eleonora Riva Sanseverino

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Sciumè

    (Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Bld. 9, 90128 Palermo, Italy)

Abstract

Climate change is leading modern society to seek innovative solutions for sustainable development and a zero-carbon economy. Nevertheless, new technologies strongly rely on precious raw materials and might suffer from supply chain risks. The European Union has identified a set of raw materials deemed to be critical or strategic because they appear essential for energy transition technologies. Consequently, long-term energy system planning must factor in the availability of these critical raw materials when selecting specific technologies, as their supply could be affected by global policies or conflicts. This paper provides a literature review on the assessment of critical raw materials in energy technologies comparing the main approaches on critical raw materials content assessment in technologies, long-term planning studies considering critical raw materials, and the development of indicators for critical raw materials content in energy technologies. The main findings of this review suggest that existing reliable databases with the bill of materials, such as life cycle inventories, should be exploited and that proper indicators to rank the criticality of materials and the importance of a specific technology should be developed. These findings are discussed and organized proposing a method for the optimal planning of an energy technologies mix in regional or national energy systems considering the availability and future supply of critical raw materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Montana & Maurizio Cellura & Maria Luisa Di Silvestre & Sonia Longo & Le Quyen Luu & Eleonora Riva Sanseverino & Giuseppe Sciumè, 2024. "Assessing Critical Raw Materials and Their Supply Risk in Energy Technologies—A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(1), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2024:i:1:p:86-:d:1555501
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Martin, Nick & Talens-Peiró, Laura & Villalba-Méndez, Gara & Nebot-Medina, Rafael & Madrid-López, Cristina, 2023. "An energy future beyond climate neutrality: Comprehensive evaluations of transition pathways," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).
    2. Talens Peiró, Laura & Martin, Nick & Villalba Méndez, Gara & Madrid-López, Cristina, 2022. "Integration of raw materials indicators of energy technologies into energy system models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    3. Kim, Junbeum & Guillaume, Bertrand & Chung, Jinwook & Hwang, Yongwoo, 2015. "Critical and precious materials consumption and requirement in wind energy system in the EU 27," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 327-334.
    4. Fabio Massaro & Maria Luisa Di Silvestre & Marco Ferraro & Francesco Montana & Eleonora Riva Sanseverino & Salvatore Ruffino, 2024. "Energy Hub Model for the Massive Adoption of Hydrogen in Power Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-31, September.
    5. Davidsson, Simon & Höök, Mikael, 2017. "Material requirements and availability for multi-terawatt deployment of photovoltaics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 574-582.
    6. Eleonora Riva Sanseverino & Le Quyen Luu, 2022. "Critical Raw Materials and Supply Chain Disruption in the Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-5, August.
    7. Hache, Emmanuel & Seck, Gondia Sokhna & Simoen, Marine & Bonnet, Clément & Carcanague, Samuel, 2019. "Critical raw materials and transportation sector electrification: A detailed bottom-up analysis in world transport," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 6-25.
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