The International Energy Agency published a new report on recycling.
For the first time, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a report highlighting the current state of recycling critical raw materials vital for advancing the energy transition. This includes copper and cobalt, as well as rare earth elements, which have become widely used due to their magnetic properties.
The report argues that establishing a circular economy could reduce but not entirely eliminate the need for more investments in mining. However, it could mitigate the environmental and social impacts of the overarching mineral extraction while strengthening supply security. Regarding rare earth elements, the authors identify electric vehicle motors and wind turbine generators as the most accessible sources for recycling rare earth magnets. Compared to household e-waste, such as smartphones, the magnets in these large applications are bigger and not housed in small, intricate casings, making them much easier to reclaim.
Beyond this finding, the report identifies new processes, automation, and artificial intelligence as areas that could offer additional opportunities in this field.
The full report is available here.
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