Better ways to obtain the metals critical for a sustainable future

Renewable and sustainable energy systems such as solar, wind, electric vehicles and batteries requires certain metals. Copper, lithium, and rare earth elements are some of the metals critical to these technologies. For example, copper demand is expected to double by 2050. Due to growing population and increased demand, the need for these metals cannot be met by recycling in the near future. New approaches are being developed to reduce the environmental impact of obtaining these metals which are critical to a clean energy for a sustainable future

Join us in this session with Prof. George Franks who will describe a better way to obtain these metals. The developing processing technologies will reduce the water and energy consumed in producing the metals as well as increasing the recovery of the valuable metals and reducing the amount of solid waste known as mineral tailings.