Copper cannot be mined quickly enough to keep up with current U.S. policy guidelines to transition the country's electricity and vehicle infrastructure to renewable energy, according to a new study.
"A normal Honda Accord needs about 40 pounds of copper. The same battery electric Honda Accord needs almost 200 pounds of copper. Onshore wind turbines require about 10 tons of copper, and in offshore wind turbines, that amount can more than double," said Adam Simon, U-M professor of earth and environmental studies."We show in the paper that the amount of copper needed is essentially impossible for mining companies to produce.
Copper is mined by more than 100 companies operating mines on six continents. The researchers drew data for global copper production back to the year 1900, which told them the global amount of copper mining companies had produced over 120 years. They then modeled how much copper mining companies are likely to produce for the rest of the century.
"I'm a huge fan of the Inflation Reduction Act. I think it's fantastic. I've got solar panels, batteries and an electric vehicle," Simon said."I'm fully on board with the energy transition. However, it needs to be done in a way that's achievable." The researchers also point out that copper will be needed for developing countries to build infrastructure, such as building an electric grid for the approximately 1 billion people who don't yet have access to electricity; to provide clean water drinking facilities for the approximately 2 billion people who don't have access to clean water; and wastewater treatment for the 4 billion people who don't have access to sanitation facilities.