Renewable energy promises a cleaner future, but at a cost. Solar farms and wind parks are hungry for metals, especially copper, nickel, lithium, cobalt etc. As demand surges, concerns grow about the strain on Earth’s limited metal resources and the environmental, social and economic pressures of mining.
Why Metal Shortages Could Limit Clean Energy
- Copper is critical for everything from turbine coils to kilometres of cabling. Renewables use four to six times more copper per MW than coal or nuclear plants1
- Nickel, lithium and cobalt also face steep demand curves. Lithium needs could soar eightfold by 20404, nickel demand may double by 2040 , and cobalt is heavily concentrated in the DRC5.
- Rare earths—like neodymium—are essential for turbine magnets. China currently dominates production6.
While geological studies show reserves exist7, scaling up mining sustainably and quickly is a major hurdle. Europe, for instance, faces a projected 35% rise in copper need by 2050—and a looming shortfall8.
Research Brings Relief
Recent chemistry research from Regensburg [49.0°N, 12.0°E] could help reduce reliance on endangered metals—and free up critical materials for energy infrastructure.
- Copper-based photocatalysts have been developed to replace iridium-based systems, which rely on rare metals and costly production.
- These copper catalysts drive light-powered reactions to create valuable chemical intermediates at around room temperature without toxic reagents—a calmer, greener method.
- By using abundant copper under visible light, the process supports solar-aligned chemistry, helping industry transition away from rare-earth-dependent catalysts.
Why It Matters to Renewable Energy
- Frees Up Rare Metals for Energy Infrastructure
Copper used in lab-scale chemistry isn’t directly part of wind farms—but replacing iridium, ruthenium or platinum in the supply chain ensures more of these metals are available for solar, wind and grid systems. - Supports a Solar-Driven Industrial Future
Light-powered processes match renewable energy’s intermittent nature—producing clean chemicals when the sun shines and avoiding carbon-heavy fossil fuel use. - Champions a Circular, Resource-Light Economy
Copper is 100% recyclable, with 80% of all mined copper still in use today. Using copper catalysts supports a closed-loop system—less mining, more re-use.9
Not a Fix-All—but a Piece of the Puzzle
Let’s be clear: this chemistry isn’t a silver bullet. But it’s a clever piece of the sustainability puzzle:
- It reduces demand for rare, high-impact metals.
- It bridges clean energy generation and industrial processes, aligning chemistry with solar and wind power.
- It boosts resilience in metal supply chains already under pressure.
The Big Picture
According to IRENA, by 2050 we’ll need around 15 000 GW of solar and 8 000 GW of wind, demanding vast quantities of copper, aluminium—and rare metals.10
This is a global challenge—one that requires smarter resource use, better recycling, and affordable substitutes for scarce metals. Innovations like this copper photocatalyst are small in scale but high in impact, helping stretch our critical metal supplies further — and keeping more copper where it matters most: in our grids, turbines and solar fields.
In Summary
Cut metal demand where we can. Copper-based light chemistry won’t power turbines, but it frees up vital rare metals and aligns industrial practices with renewable energy. Every innovation like this strengthens our ability to build a clean, sustainable future — metal by metal.
Endnotes
- Europe faces critical shortage of metals needed for clean energy, FT, 2022-04-25
The new kids on the block: redefining “critical” minerals essential for a clean energy future, World Bank Group, 2020-05-11
Copper in renewable energy, Wikipedia ↩︎ - Visualizing All the Metals for Renewable Tech, Elements – Visual Capitalist ↩︎
- Materials Shortage Will Not Stop The Energy Transition, If We Plan Ahead, IRENA, 2021-11-04 ↩︎
- 3 critical metals that are essential for the energy transition and whose demand is set to soar by 2030, Alcimed, 2023-10-23 ↩︎
- A Critical Matter, IMF eLibrary, 2023-11-30 ↩︎
- Environmental impact of wind power, Wikipedia ↩︎
- Study: Enough rare earth minerals to fuel green energy shift, AP, 2023-01-27 ↩︎
- Europe faces critical shortage of metals needed for clean energy, FT, 2022-04-25 ↩︎
- Copper, Wikipedia ↩︎
- The new kids on the block: redefining “critical” minerals essential for a clean energy future, World Bank Group, 2020-05-11
Materials Shortage Will Not Stop The Energy Transition, If We Plan Ahead, IRENA, 2021-11-04 ↩︎
Source
A general photocatalytic platform for the regio- and stereoselective β-chloroacylation of alkenes and alkynes using a heteroleptic copper(I) complex, Nature Catalysis, 2025-06-24
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