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Mineral intensity in battery innovation

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Resumo:This paper assesses core material inputs occurrence in battery innovation measured in terms of critical mineral intensity in patents. Our findings, which span two decades, show that on average battery technologies are becoming more mineral-intensive. The analysis further reveals a rich tapestry of critical minerals, beyond the conventional set of key battery minerals. Notably, gallium, germanium, niobium, phosphate, silicon, titanium and zirconium are all growing in relative importance. Analysis of battery technology specialisation profiles and patterns further highlight inventor countries’ critical mineral needs. While China has grown more specialised in magnesium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, the United States shows a technological advantage in organic radical batteries. Significantly, these patterns similarly reflect diverging paradigmatic shifts along a North-South divide. We discuss the results in the context of supply chain security concerns and the larger clean energy transition.
Autores principais:Camuamba, Elsa Natália Hilário
Assunto:Strategic dependencies Supply risks Value chain disruption Green transition Geoeconomics SDG 7 - Affordable and clean energy SDG 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure SDG 13 - Climate action
Ano:2024
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:dissertação de mestrado
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade Nova de Lisboa
Idioma:inglês
Origem:Repositório Institucional da UNL
Descrição
Resumo:This paper assesses core material inputs occurrence in battery innovation measured in terms of critical mineral intensity in patents. Our findings, which span two decades, show that on average battery technologies are becoming more mineral-intensive. The analysis further reveals a rich tapestry of critical minerals, beyond the conventional set of key battery minerals. Notably, gallium, germanium, niobium, phosphate, silicon, titanium and zirconium are all growing in relative importance. Analysis of battery technology specialisation profiles and patterns further highlight inventor countries’ critical mineral needs. While China has grown more specialised in magnesium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, the United States shows a technological advantage in organic radical batteries. Significantly, these patterns similarly reflect diverging paradigmatic shifts along a North-South divide. We discuss the results in the context of supply chain security concerns and the larger clean energy transition.