As we embark on our green revolution, we face the challenges of meeting the soaring demand for lithium.

 

Electric vehicles (EV’s) will be the norm in our communities as we strive towards sustainable living. One of the biggest challenges facing the growth of green living is the upcoming demand for minerals – most importantly, lithium.

 

All About Lithium

 

Lithium is a reasonably abundant element.  In fact, it is the 30th most abundant element – ahead of lead, silver and tin. It is mined worldwide and is most commonly sourced from Chile. However, it is also extracted from Argentina, Australia, China and even Cornwall!

By 2050, the World Bank reports that lithium demand will increase by 965% as a result of the ‘green’ revolution.

How much lithium is required in green technology?

To help you understand why the demand for lithium is going to skyrocket, let me present some examples of green technologies which require the mineral.

• The Telsa Powerwall Battery Storage requires approximately 10kg 
• The Tesla Model S requires around 51kg of Lithium

Reports suggest that in 2019, 3,750 Tesla Model S’ were sold. This equates to approximate 191,250kg of lithium. 

 

Local Sources of Lithium: Cornish Lithium

 

Cornwall is 1 of 5 known large scale lithium enriched granite bodies worldwide (as stated by the United States Geological Survey).

The element was identified in underground hot-springs in the south-west of England in 1864 by a man named WA Miller. It is was much later in 2016, that ‘Cornish Lithium’ was founded.

In line with local council and Environment Agency regulations, the Lithium extraction by the Cornish company states that the footprint of the lithium plant will be the same as that of a supermarket. The company aims to extract the lithium from fluid in a processing unit and have undertaken vast amounts of research to ensure they park-take in the most environmentally friendly extraction. 

 

Circular Economy and Lithium Mining

 

The transition to electric motoring will undoubtedly influence the processes involves in vehicle decommissioning.  A surge in recycling centres for EV’s will become mandatory in order to deal with the surge in EV growth.  Fortunately, there are processes which can extract elements from decommissioned EV’s in order for them to be used again. Thus, promoting the circular economy and reducing landfill and electric waste. 

 

Tesla Gigafactory

 

Reports suggest that a Tesla Gigafactory could be built on a 635-acre plot of land in Somerset, England. 

The site, named ‘Gravity’, is suggested to cover 92-acres of land and will support EV and battery manufacturing.

The Somerset Live stated that: 

“The Faraday Institution, the UK’s independent institute for electrochemical energy storage research and skills development, estimates that Britain will need one gigafactory by 2022, two gigafactories by 2025 and eight gigafactories by 2040 to meet demand for electric vehicles and batteries”.

The site is praised by Kwasi Kwarteng – The Minister of State for Business, Energy and Clean Growth – due to its proximity to the M5, Junction 23 motorways, air and seaports and railway. As such the movement of batteries around the country will be simple – enabling the supply and demand for batteries to be met in the country.

 

 

Interested in electric vehicle charge points? 

Email Wessex ECOEnergy for more details: info@wessexecoenergy.com. 

Or call us on: 01305 250429

 

About Wessex ECOEnergy

We are based in Poundbury, Dorset and supply solar PV and electric vehicle charge points. We are approved MCS installers and together have years of experience in the industry. Wessex ECOEnergy receive 5* reviews and have been awarded residential solar award of the year in 2018.

Sources:

The World Bank report on: ‘The Growing Role of Minerals and Metals for a Low Carbon Future’, read HERE. 

To find out more about Cornish Lithium, read HERE. 

 

Photo Credit: The Motley Fool