New report shines light on critical raw materials

Latest Green Alliance report proposes five steps to greater energy security through demand reduction and circularity.

Energy security is an increasing concern for governments globally, and there is a growing recognition that decarbonising power, transport and domestic use will reduce reliance on imported supplies.

As countries, particularly the UK, make the decarbonisation move the report, Mission critical: safeguarding resources for UK energy security, notes the need to be mindful of where the materials needed for energy infrastructure are sourced. There is an opportunity to further improve energy security by reducing demand for these materials and keeping them in circulation, through reuse, remanufacturing and recycling.

The UK imports most of the materials it needs for renewables and EVs. The report argues that a new approach is needed, as part of an energy security strategy, that focuses first on reducing demand for critical raw materials, and then on building the capacity for reuse, remanufacturing and recycling.

The five steps proposed consider responsible mining, clear data, demand reduction and circularity, developing skills and securing finance.