Copper end use trends

Interesting angle about India's role. The article in science magazine that is referred to: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6473/30. We already referred to this story before at https://groups.diigo.com/group/trends/content/world-risks-shortage-of-materials-for-evs-and-wind-turbines-without-agreements-for-green-supply-chains-experts-warn-17976959

Since 1993, compared to the World Energy Outlook which started in 2006.

'Green gentrification', the global equivalent for the terms 'energy poverty' and 'fair transition' in the EU. A genuine issue for broader society. The copper perspective: energy efficiency, cost-effectiveness, electrical safety.

This paper (open-access) looks at the future needs for 14 metals, including copper, in the context of the energy transition. Coming from a credible source, the paper presents a balanced and reasonably complete perspective adding a new geopolitical element. For the latter, the Herfindahl-Hirschman index, well known from competition policy, is introduced, and 14 metals are compared to the geopolitics of oil. Interesting as well is the discussion what mineral revenues mean for producer countries.

What is the link to copper? * Electrification and hybridisation of air transport? * Substitution of air with high-speed rail? * Digital technology for video-conferencing? * All of the above?

Note that these coils could also be perfectly made out of copper, combining all the advantages of the new design with the advantages with copper. For bigger motors beyond pedelecs, such designs have been or are currently being developed (Copper Alliance worked in 2005-2010 with automotive OEMs in this area).

The market for PV is booming, but prices for PV-generated power are decreasing, leading to increasing cost pressures.

See also our webinar on this report, in partnership with IEA-PVPS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph9AW2PEgBg

"Analysts say that further demand for copper will come from electric vehicles, which use four times as much of the metal as traditional cars. But they say this will play out over the next few years, leaving the trade war as the most important influence on copper prices in 2020".

Another reference to electromagnetic issues. The term 'hazy' captures the issue well for a non-specialist public. Electromagnetic smog could be an alternative.

AI is certainly a disruptive technology, but opinions differ how far it can go. Certainly in rule-based environments (chess, Go), AI seems unbeatable. Some however go as far as to claim that computers will be able to do anything that humans can do, replacing doctors and artists, to name a few.

Storyline of the disruption that might happen over the coming decade if TaaS (Transport as a Service) becomes a reality. Implications for the oil & gas industry (stranded assets), cities (lots of free space), construction (a boom), grids (no peakers, no market for ancillary services), and of course for the automotive sector.

First report about RF pollution of solar panels. In general, the energy transition increasingly uses the electromagnetic spectrum, and we can expect more issues in the future. The solution (and the copper dimension): increased redundancy of systems.

Great catch. Copper is not only the best conductor material, it might also provide superconductors :-).

Nice catch, and good a observe a consistent, less casual approach. Worth having a deeper look.

Good shortlist of mining challenges/trends: * Tailing dams: 'failing forward' * Intelligent exploration * EPCM partnership * Circularity * Automation & robotics * New resources