A talk on the important role that obscure but critical metals such as rare-earth elements, lithium and cobalt play in our modern high-tech society, for electric vehicles, wind turbines and beyond.
There is little doubt that the increased electrification of transportation and energy systems will be a pivotal part of our society’s response, to the challenges of climate change and the need to reduce pollution. The deployment of the electrical machines and batteries required for this great transition, will depend entirely on access to a number of critical metals, and the robustness of their supply chains. Secondary production, through the re-use and recycling of components containing such metals, is an important part of the story, but the primary production of critical metals will continue to dominate for years to come.
This talk focuses on the challenges faced by the primary critical-metals supply chain, and the part that it is has to play in meeting the technical and societal challenges of our age.
Bio: Dr. Gareth Hatch is the Managing Director of Bollington-based Strategic Materials Advisory Limited, and is Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor of Critical Minerals and Materials, at the University of Birmingham.