Study Says World Has Enough Rare Earth Metals for Green Energy
2023-02-13
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1A recent study says there are enough rare earth metals on Earth for new "low-carbon electricity generation" technologies.
2Rare earth metals come from minerals found in countries around the world.
3The researchers said more mining is needed to make more of the valuable metals available to industry.
4Rare earth metals are in demand for products such as magnets, wind turbines, solar panels and computers.
5All are part of the "green energy" push to remove carbon gases from electricity generation.
6The researchers said the amount of minerals available is enough to supply a switch to renewable energy.
7They wrote that the carbon gasses "related to electricity infrastructure may be substantial."
8But the study said it would be between one and nine percent of the world's budget for carbon gas production.
9The study came out recently in the science publication Joule.
10Zeke Hausfather helped write the study.
11He is an expert who works at a technology company called Stripe and at Berkeley Earth, a non-profit climate research group.
12He called the process "big and messy."
13But he thinks reducing carbon gases, or "decarbonization," can be done.
14He said he is not worried about the long-term supply of rare earth materials.
15However, the scientists warn that in the early days of the switch to green energy, there will be shortages.
16For example, there could be a shortage of the element called dysprosium.
17It is used to make strong magnets.
18Industry will require three times more of the metal than is produced now.
19However, there is 12 times more dysprosium available than needed, the researchers said.
20Another element is tellurium, which is used in large groups of solar panels, called solar farms.
21There is just enough of that material available if the world makes a fast push to solar power, the researchers said.
22In addition, there are other materials that can be used instead of tellurium if needed.
23Daniel Ibarra is an environment professor at Brown University.
24He did not take part in the study but knows about lithium shortages.
25He told the Associated Press that the study was "robust" and "debunks" concerns about running out of rare earth materials.
26He said the main question is if production of the materials can keep up with demand.
27The United States Geological Survey reports that the countries with the largest supplies of rare earth metals are China, Vietnam, Russia and Myanmar, also known as Burma.
28The study also noted that mining causes pollution.
29But the scientists said that if the world switches to green energy, the mining will not be a problem.
30Rob Jackson is an energy expert and studies how humans affect the earth, but was not involved in the study.
31He is a professor at Stanford University.
32He said even with evidence that there are enough rare earth materials, humans should still be concerned with creating less pollution.
33"Along with mining more, we should be using less," he said.
34The study centered on the creation of electric power and did not look at the materials used in electric car batteries.
35Hausfather said that study is too complicated and will be examined by the team next.
36I'm Dan Friedell.
1A recent study says there are enough rare earth metals on Earth for new "low-carbon electricity generation" technologies. 2Rare earth metals come from minerals found in countries around the world. 3The researchers said more mining is needed to make more of the valuable metals available to industry. Rare earth metals are in demand for products such as magnets, wind turbines, solar panels and computers. All are part of the "green energy" push to remove carbon gases from electricity generation. 4The researchers said the amount of minerals available is enough to supply a switch to renewable energy. They wrote that the carbon gasses "related to electricity infrastructure may be substantial." But the study said it would be between one and nine percent of the world's budget for carbon gas production. 5The study came out recently in the science publication Joule. 6Zeke Hausfather helped write the study. He is an expert who works at a technology company called Stripe and at Berkeley Earth, a non-profit climate research group. He called the process "big and messy." But he thinks reducing carbon gases, or "decarbonization," can be done. He said he is not worried about the long-term supply of rare earth materials. 7However, the scientists warn that in the early days of the switch to green energy, there will be shortages. For example, there could be a shortage of the element called dysprosium. It is used to make strong magnets. Industry will require three times more of the metal than is produced now. However, there is 12 times more dysprosium available than needed, the researchers said. 8Another element is tellurium, which is used in large groups of solar panels, called solar farms. There is just enough of that material available if the world makes a fast push to solar power, the researchers said. In addition, there are other materials that can be used instead of tellurium if needed. 9Daniel Ibarra is an environment professor at Brown University. He did not take part in the study but knows about lithium shortages. He told the Associated Press that the study was "robust" and "debunks" concerns about running out of rare earth materials. He said the main question is if production of the materials can keep up with demand. 10The United States Geological Survey reports that the countries with the largest supplies of rare earth metals are China, Vietnam, Russia and Myanmar, also known as Burma. 11The study also noted that mining causes pollution. But the scientists said that if the world switches to green energy, the mining will not be a problem. 12Rob Jackson is an energy expert and studies how humans affect the earth, but was not involved in the study. He is a professor at Stanford University. He said even with evidence that there are enough rare earth materials, humans should still be concerned with creating less pollution. "Along with mining more, we should be using less," he said. 13The study centered on the creation of electric power and did not look at the materials used in electric car batteries. Hausfather said that study is too complicated and will be examined by the team next. 14I'm Dan Friedell. 15Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 16________________________________________________________________ 17Words in This Story 18generation -n. the process of creating something, especially electricity 19wind turbine -n. an electricity generator that uses wind for power 20solar panel -n. a flat device that changes sunlight into electricity 21infrastructure -n. structures, like roads, bridges and power stations, that are needed to operate a modern country 22substantial -adj. a large amount, size or number 23messy -adj. not organized or cared for 24robust -adj. strong or impressive 25debunk -v. to show that something is not true 26________________________________________________________________ 27We want to hear from you. Do you think the world will push fast enough for these materials? 28We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 29Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.