The weight of mineral resources in energy systems

Humanity is using mineral resources at an unprecedented rate, and demand will continue to grow over the coming decades, fuelled by the energy and digital transitions and the economic development of highly populated countries. But the nature and quantities of mineral resources needed are highly dependent on the types of use envisaged, which vary according to the organisation and level of development of societies. The demand for raw materials must therefore be estimated using a dynamic and regionalised approach, taking into account the different development scenarios, particularly as regards the deployment of renewable or decarbonised energy resources. This article summarises the main analyses of previously published articles by Olivier Vidal et al. [1-4].