Critical Raw Materials
Innovation Network
November 2013, Dr Claire Claessen
9.5 billion people expected to live on the
planet by 2050
3 billion more middle-class consumers
forecast in the global economy by 2030
Endangered Elements
• As much gold in 1 tonne
of computer scrap as in 17
tonnes of gold ore
• Concentration of platinum
in the dust on the streets
of Birmingham is higher
than in the ore it came
from
• More copper above the
ground in use that left in
viable supplies
Chuquicamata mine, Chile
• Rh mining generates
30,000 kgCO2 per kg
Newman iron ore mine, Pilbara, Australia – Google Earth
Concentration of critical minerals
EU Raw Materials Initiative, June 2010
Secondary Metals
Elements in a Mobile Phone
Roughly 40 different elements
H, Li, Be, C, N, O, F, Al, Si, S, Cl,
K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu,
Zn, Ga, As, Br, Sr, Y, Zr, Ru, Pd,
Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Ba, Ta, W, Pt,
Au, Hg, Pb, Bi, Nd.
mobile phone weighing 100
grams, contains
13.7 g of copper
0.189 g of silver
0.028 g of gold
0.014 g of palladium
Source: Basel Convention, 2006; Lindholm (Nokia report), 2003
Approaches
CRM_InnoNet
• Critical Raw Materials Innovation
Network – Towards an integrated
community driving innovation in the field
of critical raw material substitution for
the benefit of EU industry.
CRM_InnoNet
• Critical Raw Materials Innovation
Network – Towards an integrated
community driving innovation in the field
of critical raw material substitution for
the benefit of EU industry.
CRM_InnoNet
• Critical Raw Materials Innovation
Network – Towards an integrated
community driving innovation in the field
of critical raw material substitution for
the benefit of EU industry.
80% of senior executives from global
manufacturing companies cite mineral and metals
scarcity as a pressing issue (PWC, Dec 2011)
67% see this evolving into an area of opportunity,
including the possibility of adopting alternative
approaches or substitutes (PWC, Dec 2011)
What is substitution?
Substance for Substance
Service for Product
Process for Process
New Technology for Substance
Substance for Substance
Nexeon, UK
Rio Tinto, Borax
• Graphite used as anode in
rechargeable batteries
• Antimony oxide used as smoke
suppressant in PVC
manufacture
• Modified form of silicon
matches graphite advantages
with higher energy density
www.nexeon.co.uk
• Replace with Firebrake ZB
(zinc borate)
www.borax.com
Substance for new technology
NEDO, Japan
Nanoco
• Rare earths in displays
for ICT
• Quantum dots in organic
polymer LEDs
www.nanocotechnologies.com
• Rare earths used heavily in
electric and hybrid vehicles
(Prius uses 1 kg Nd)
• Developing a hydbrid motor
that is ‘rare earth free’
Bottom-up material-led
approach
Top-down application-led
approach
EU Critical Raw Materials
EU Raw Materials Initiative, June 2010
Background information on demand
• What is the raw material used for and why?
• Are there alternative materials or technologies? What
are their relative merits?
Natural graphite
Summary of findings
Consultation
• Substitution profiles
freely available online
• Report open for
feedback until August
2014
Bottom-up material-led
approach
Top-down application-led
approach
Approach
• Three sectors: Energy; ICT and electronics; Transport
(automotive and aero)
• Screening of applications
• Detailed analysis of selected applications on each sector
– Statistical analysis using centralised data sources
– “Business” analysis – compiling of product specific information
Selection of applications for value chain
analysis, ICT sector
Stage 1
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Stage 2
Value chain
Mobile phones
Laptops/computer
Printers
Display and screens
• Mobile phones
(Video)camera
• Laptops
Loudspeakers
• Optical fibre
• Flat panel
Assembled PCB
• Flat panel
display/screens
Fluorescent lamps
display/screens
• Assembled PCB
LED lighting
• MRI
• LED lighting
MRI
• LED lighting
• MRI
Electric tools
• Domestic appliances
• Sensors
Sensors
• Optical fibre
Optical fibre
• Domestic appliances
Washing machine
Application present >0.2
Cooling appliances CRM are present in
% of the sector
the application
Air conditioner
production
Vacuum cleaners
EU production > 25
Food mixers
% of import +
Small current and
future market
production
Example of statistical VC-analysis – washing
machine
 Economic value to the EU
 Position of EU in the value
chain
 Amount of CRM used in
application
 Expected evolution with time
 Currently available
substitutes?
Status of substitution activities
 Substitution strategies for
CRM in priority applications
To 2030 (by exception to
2050)
 Technical and Non-technical
barriers
 Current Policies
 International learnings
Success criteria for
substitution
Vision
 Political requirements
Roadmap
Workshops
May
2014
2nd Innovation
Network
Workshop
Jan
2015
April
2015
Roadmap
Workshops
May
2014
Jan
2015
2nd Innovation
Network
Workshop
Policy
Workshops
April
2015
3rd Innovation
Network Workshop
& Project
Conference
Roadmap
Workshops
May
2014
Jan
2015
2nd Innovation
Network
Workshop
Policy
Workshops
April
2015
Project Website
www.criticalrawmaterials.eu
“It is not the strongest of the species
that survives, nor the most intelligent,
but the one most responsive to
change.” Charles Darwin
Consortium
End Users
Innovation Agencies
R&T Organisations
Solution providers
www.criticalrawmaterials.eu
[email protected]
[email protected]
Twitter: @CRM_InnoNet