A new report says the USA can’t mine Copper fast enough to meet its ambitious goals to electrify the country.
Produced by Michigan University and commissioned by the International Energy Forum—IEF—the snapshot looked at 120 years of global data from copper mining companies. It concluded that current U.S. policy guidelines to transition the country’s electricity and vehicle infrastructure to clean energy will demand huge amounts of copper that it doesn’t have.
In particular the report says the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law in 2022, calls for 100% of cars manufactured to be electric vehicles by 2035, not to mention the copper required for upgrades to the electric grid as it shifts to renewable energy like solar and wind.
For example a normal Honda Accord needs about 18 kgs of copper but the same battery electric Honda Accord needs almost 90 kgs. Onshore wind turbines require about 10 tons of copper and in offshore wind turbines that amount can more than double.
The study also pointed out that copper will be needed for developing countries to build infrastructure, such as building an electric grid for the approximately 1B people who don’t yet have access to electricity; to provide clean water drinking facilities for the approximately 2B people who don’t have access to clean water; and wastewater treatment for the 4B people who don’t have access to sanitation facilities.
The researchers said the report is a wake up call for governments who’s emphasis on downstream manufacture of renewable energy technologies cannot be met by upstream mine production of copper and other metals.
It’s time, they said, for “a complete mindset change about mining among environmental groups and policymakers.”