Evaluating Metal Criticality for Low-Carbon Power Generation Technologies in Japan
2019
Given a potential increase in
low-carbon powergeneration, assessing the
criticalityof metals used for its technologies is of significant importance. While several studies analyzed the metal
criticalityof an individual technology, the national metal
criticalityfor a wide range of
low-carbon powergeneration technologies and the comparison of overall
criticalityof each technology have yet to be fully evaluated. Therefore, this study firstly evaluates the
criticalityof 29 metals used in facilities for renewable energy and highly efficient thermal power generation in Japan and then compares the overall
criticalityfor each technology to identify metals that might impose limitations on these technologies and to discuss measures for removal of factors hindering the spread of
low-carbon powergeneration technologies. It was discovered that solar power generation technology is the most
criticaltechnology from the perspective of supply risk due to the use of indium, cadmium and selenium, while wind power generation is the most
criticaltechnology from the perspective of vulnerability to supply restriction because of the use of neodymium and
dysprosium. A developed approach would have a significant potential to contributing to energy-mineral nexus, which may assist in providing policy implications from the perspectives of both specific metals and technologies.
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