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22.09.2020 (647 Clicks)

EV Batteries made from Deep-Sea Rocks dramatically reduce Carbon

New peer-reviewed study commissioned by DeepGreen finds making electric vehicle batteries from deep-sea rocks can dramatically reduce climate change impacts compared to land-based ores

• Research shows up to 90% carbon footprint reduction for critical minerals for electric vehicle batteries when sourcing them from deep-sea polymetallic nodules compared to conventionally mined land ores
• Polymetallic nodules from the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the Pacific Ocean contain rich concentrations of four metals required for EVs in a single ore, including nickel, a crucial ingredient in EV batteries, which will increasingly be mined from beneath large forested carbon sinks in tropical areas like Indonesia and the Philippines
• As governments scramble to secure supplies of critical minerals to build renewable infrastructure, the paper analyzes the planetary-scale and full lifecycle climate impacts of producing these metals

As the world rushes to replace fossil fuels with renewable sources of energy, new research shows that polymetallic rocks found on the deep-ocean floor can supply hundreds of millions of tons of important battery metals to store energy and power electric vehicles (EVs) with far less impact on the climate than mining the same metals from the land.

The peer-reviewed study, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, is a comparative life cycle assessment of EV battery metal sources, quantifying the direct and indirect emissions and disruptions to carbon sequestration services realized in the mining, processing and refining of battery metals. The carbon intensity of producing metals like nickel has led to growing interest in low-carbon metal sources and a recent plea by Tesla’s Elon Musk promising “a giant contract” for nickel mined “efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive way.” As EV manufacturers like Tesla and Polestar spearhead a movement for transparency throughout the automotive industry and reveal the lifetime carbon footprints of their cars, the new study goes beyond just considering carbon emissions from human operations to look at the disruption of ecosystem carbon sequestration services caused by changes in land and seabed use to produce battery metals.

Entitled ‘Life Cycle Climate Change Impacts of Producing Battery Metals from Land Ores versus Deep-Sea Polymetallic Nodules’, the paper starts with a demand scenario of producing four metals (nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper) to supply one billion 75KWh EV batteries with a cathode chemistry of NMC 811 (80% nickel, 10% manganese, 10% cobalt). It then compares the climate change impacts of supplying these four metals from two sources: conventional ores found on land and polymetallic rocks with high concentrations of four metals in a single ore, found unattached on the seafloor at 4-6 km depth.

“We wanted to assess how metal production using either land ores or polymetallic nodules can contribute to climate change. Looking from mining to processing and refining, we quantified three indicators for each ore type: direct and indirect carbon-dioxide-equivalent emissions, disturbance of existing sequestered-carbon stores, and disruption of future carbon-sequestration services. These three indicators directly impact the remaining global carbon budget to stay below 1.5C warming,” said the study’s lead author Daina Paulikas of the University of Delaware’s Center for Minerals, Materials and Society.

The study found that producing battery metals from nodules can reduce active human emissions of CO2e by 70-75%, stored carbon at risk by 94% and disruption of carbon sequestration services by 88%. “Terrestrial miners are handicapped by challenges like falling ore grades, as lower concentrations of metal lead to greater requirements of energy, materials, and land area to produce the same amount of metal. Furthermore, the actual collection of nodules entails a relatively low energy, land, and waste footprint compared to a conventional mine. When it comes to emissions, even when we assume a complete phase-out of coal use from background electric grids for process inputs, our model shows that metal production from high-grade polymetallic nodules can still produce a 70% advantage,” said Paulikas.

“What happens to carbon sinks on land and on the seafloor used for metal production is another big part of the climate impact story,” said Dr Steven Katona, marine biologist and co-founder of the Ocean Health Index who contributed to the study. “On land, carbon is stored in vegetation, soil and detritus. On the seafloor, carbon is stored in sediments and seawater. Producing metals for one billion EVs from land ores would disrupt 156,000 km² of land and 2,100 km² of seabed for deep-sea tailings disposal. Producing the same amount from nodules would disrupt 508,000 km² of the seafloor during nodule collection and 9,800 km² of land during metallurgical processing. Despite disturbing a larger area of the seafloor, metal production from nodules would cause much less carbon disruption. This is because seafloor sediments store 15 times less carbon per km² than an average terrestrial biome and there is no known mechanism for disturbed seafloor sediment to rise to the surface and impact atmospheric carbon. In contrast, mining on land requires removal of forests, other vegetation and topsoil to access the ore, store waste and build infrastructure. In the process, we lose stored carbon and disrupt carbon sequestration services for as long as land remains in use, which can be as long as 30-100 years.”

The researchers found that polymetallic nodules could deliver metals for one billion EV batteries with up to 11.6 Gt less of CO2e compared to terrestrial sources. This represents a significant potential saving given the remaining carbon budget of just 235 Gt for a 66% probability of staying at 1.5°C global warming.

“We hope this work motivates others to dive deeper into supply chain analysis for the clean energy transition, and specifically to pay attention to the impacts of producing critical minerals like the ones we studied,” said Paulikas. “Given the expected 500% increase in mineral requirements for clean technologies, I think we have a shared responsibility to take a planetary view and think through all aspects of mineral production to ensure that this resource-intensive transition does not exacerbate climate change.”

The researchers’ focus on climate change impacts builds on a larger study, Where Should Metals For the Green Transition Come From?, that compares a range of social and environmental impacts and was commissioned by DeepGreen Metals, a company seeking to collect polymetallic rocks to supply electric vehicles under a blockchain-enabled system to rent and reuse battery materials.

“This peer-reviewed study shows the intrinsic benefits of seafloor rocks when it comes to climate change impacts. The resource itself gives us a significant head start on land miners, but being low carbon is not enough. We are working on taking carbon out of the atmosphere, not adding it,” said Gerard Barron, Chairman and CEO of DeepGreen Metals. “We’ll use hydropower onshore; we are exploring electrofuels to power offshore operations and using electric equipment and carbon-negative reductants in metallurgical processing. Put it all together, and we have a shot at bringing carbon-negative metals to the market.”

Source: DeepGreen

                     

22.09.2020 (659 Clicks)

QRC welcomes the Release of more Land for Gas Exploration

The Queensland Resources Council, the peak organisation for the State’s coal, metal and petroleum producers, explorers and suppliers, has welcomed the release of more than 3,000 square kilometres of land in parts of south west and central Queensland near existing infrastructure to fast-track the gas to market.

22.09.2020 (737 Clicks)

HS2 heralds formal Start of Construction as a 22,000 ‘jobs boost’ for Britain

• Major milestone for Europe’s largest infrastructure project as it moves from enabling works to full construction following Government’s approval for Notice to Proceed in April
• HS2 Ltd and its Tier One contractors expect to recruit for around 22,000 roles in the coming years to build the Phase One route – offering people a path back into work after the pandemic
• HS2 Ltd CEO Mark Thurston: “the reality of high speed journeys joining up Britain’s biggest cities in the North and Midlands and using that connectivity to help level up the country has just moved a step closer”
• NEW HS2 animations, infographics, drone footage and more available at this link: https://visual.library.hs2.org.uk/p/share/HoMPX6th7pT2

21.09.2020 (588 Clicks)

Turquoise Hill announces resignation of director Alan Chirgwin and appointment of Alfie Grigg to the Board of Directors

Turquoise Hill Resources announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of non-independent director Alan Chirgwin, effective September 17, 2020. Mr. Chirgwin’s resignation corresponds with his personal decision to leave Rio Tinto.

19.09.2020 (594 Clicks)

Warrawoona Gold Project, Pilbara WA Construction underway at Warrawoona Gold Project

Preferred tenderers appointed for open pit mining contract and processing plant

18.09.2020 (788 Clicks)

Produce up to 15,000 Tons per Hour with the Niagara XL-Class Vibrating Screen

Haver & Boecker Niagara offers the Niagara XL-Class vibrating screen, which combines advanced exciter drive technology with a wide body to offer producers high-capacity screening action at up to 15,000 tons per hour. The XL-Class is the largest exciter-driven machine in the industry.

18.09.2020 (591 Clicks)

Launch of new Hydrogen Utilization Council in Kobe/Kansai Area in Japan

Mitsubishi Power, Ltd., a major wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, and Japanese various industry organizations and energy companies involved in hydrogen projects launched a new council named Kobe/Kansai Hydrogen Utilization Council with the goal of developing hydrogen utilization methods and establishing a hydrogen supply chain in the Kobe/Kansai area.

17.09.2020 (733 Clicks)

Geomega nominates new Board of Directors Montreal

• Geomega adds technical and operations management experience
• Geomega nominates Nicholas Nickoletopoulos to its Board of Directors Montreal, September 16, 2020

16.09.2020 (728 Clicks)

Lundin Gold receives Exploration Permit for high Priority Barbasco Target

Lundin Gold Inc. announced that it has received the exploration permit for the Emperador concession, which includes the highly prospective, drill ready Barbasco target. With the receipt of the permit, the Company is now planning a 6,000 metre drill program at Barbasco for mid to late fourth quarter of this year. Prior to the start of drilling, community socialization and implementation of COVID-19 protocols is required.

16.09.2020 (730 Clicks)

Queenslanders shine in national Women in Resources Awards

Two Queensland women have taken out top honours in the Women in Resources National Awards presented by the Minerals Council of Australia today.

Kathryn Young, Geotechnical Engineer at BHP’s Peak Downs Mine in Moranbah took the Newcrest Exceptional Young Woman in Australian Resources Award for her impressive technical leadership, mentoring and strong advocacy on gender diversity.