The World Bank identifies that demand for 17 minerals, ranging from aluminium to zinc, will continue to rise owing to their use in new solar, wind and hydropower technologies.
But underpinning the renewable energy transition are some of the most overlooked ingredients: the raw materials for concrete which is the backbone of renewable energy infrastructure.
Sand, gravel and limestone are necessary for the construction of foundations for wind turbines and solar panels, as well as the walls of hydroelectric dams and pumped hydro facilities.
By our estimates, these seemingly common materials could make up as much as 70 per cent of mineral needs for the renewable energy push, by far the largest share followed by other construction materials like iron.
Read the full story on UQ News here.
