{"id":16177,"date":"2023-06-07T14:30:20","date_gmt":"2023-06-07T12:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/?page_id=16177"},"modified":"2024-01-31T14:11:18","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T13:11:18","slug":"low-carbon-high-damage-renewable-energies-and-rare-earth-elements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/low-carbon-high-damage-renewable-energies-and-rare-earth-elements\/","title":{"rendered":"Low Carbon \u2013 High Damage? Renewable Energies and Rare Earth Elements"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"tie-dropcap \">A<\/span><span style=\"letter-spacing: 0pt;\">chieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 \u00b0C will require massive investment in renewable energy. The transition to a decarbonized energy system will lead to a huge increase in demand for minerals, especially metals, rare earth elements (REE) and lithium, making the energy sector a major force in commodity markets. More mining is necessary than ever. The world mining production will \u00adincrease<\/span> the\u00a0risk of high damages if the minerals will not be mined as sustainable as possible. Especially mining and processing REE to build permanent magnets for wind turbines and generators for electric vehicles are causing significant environmental challenges at the beginning of the supply chain. Mining REE is highly toxic. The \u00adsource \u00adminerals of REE can contain the radioactive elements thorium and uranium, among others. And the more is mined the higher will be the volume of radioactive waste from th e separation of the elements. The paper describes the side effects of a rapidly growing industry that needs more sustainable business models to avoid risks or even disasters.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"one_third tie-columns\"><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/_pda\/2023\/06\/MRG_2303_low_carbon_high_damage_Drusche_230612.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"shortc-button small white\">Download article as PDF<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"two_third tie-columns last\"><strong>Authors\/Autoren: <\/strong>Dr.-Ing. Olaf Drusche, Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum\/Germany, Prof. Dr. rer. pol. J\u00fcrgen Kretschmann, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen\/Germany\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<h4>1 \u00a0Introduction<\/h4>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<p>In the net-zero emissions scenario, electricity becomes the new linchpin of the global energy system, providing more than half of total final consumption and two-thirds of useful energy by 2050. Total electricity generation expects to grow by 3.3\u2009%\/a to 2050, faster than global economic growth over the period. Annual capacity additions from all renewables quadruple from 290 GW in 2021 to around 1,200 GW in 2030. As renewables reach over 60\u2009% of total generation in 2030, no new unabated coal-fired power plants are needed. Annual nuclear capacity additions to 2050 are almost four times the recent historical average (1).<\/p>\n<p>An energy system powered by renewable energy technologies is fundamentally different from one powered by traditional hydrocarbon resources (2). More minerals and metals, e.\u2009g., are needed to build solar PV and wind farms than to build fossil fuel plants at same capacity. An onshore wind turbine park requires nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired power plant while producing the same amount of energy. Electricity grids require huge amounts of copper and aluminum. According to the European Union\u2019s Report on Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors, the demand for some rare earth metals used in permanent magnets for electric vehicles, digital technologies or wind generators could increase tenfold by 2050 (Figure 1) (3).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16187\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16187\" style=\"width: 1400px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_1_nachfrage_seltenerdelemente.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16187 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_1_nachfrage_seltenerdelemente.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1400\" height=\"654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_1_nachfrage_seltenerdelemente.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_1_nachfrage_seltenerdelemente-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_1_nachfrage_seltenerdelemente-1024x478.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_1_nachfrage_seltenerdelemente-768x359.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_1_nachfrage_seltenerdelemente-600x280.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16187\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fig. 1. Demand forecasts for rare earth elements at different average growth rates. \/\/ Bild 1. Nachfrageprognosen f\u00fcr Seltenerdelemente bei unterschiedlichen durchschnittlichen Zuwachsraten. Source\/Quelle: Drusche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<h4>2 \u00a0Risks of unsustainable mining for renewable energy<\/h4>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<p>What emissions and waste are generated to produce renewable energy? It is necessary to look at the entire value chain, from extraction to production, including waste generation and recycling, in order to identify opportunities and risks of sustainable energy technologies. Inevitably, there is an environmental issue with renewable energy that has received little attention because most of its raw materials come from China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Australia.<\/p>\n<p>Unsustainable rare earth mining practices are in the spotlight for a long time, e.\u2009g., in Myanmar on the border to China (4). Myanmar has been able to increase annual production to an average of 24,000 t over the past five years (5). This production volume made Myanmar the world\u2019s fourth-largest producer of rare earths.<\/p>\n<p>Of particular interest in Myanmar are dysprosium and terbium, the two most valuable heavy rare earth metals (6). Their main area of application is high-performance permanent magnets, which are needed to manufacture motors and generators for electric vehicles and wind turbines.<\/p>\n<p>The elements, extracted using a process known as in-situ leaching, are in high demand as China\u2019s central government has stepped up its efforts to clean up the rare earths industry in recent years. Despite rising global demand, mines have been closed because of severely restricted regulations in Jiangxi province (Figure 2).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16188\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16188\" style=\"width: 620px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_2_in_situ_laugung_myanmar.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16188 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_2_in_situ_laugung_myanmar-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_2_in_situ_laugung_myanmar-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_2_in_situ_laugung_myanmar-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_2_in_situ_laugung_myanmar-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_2_in_situ_laugung_myanmar-600x451.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_2_in_situ_laugung_myanmar.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16188\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fig. 2. In situ leaching at an rare earth mine in Myanmar near the Chinese border. \/\/ Bild 2. In-Situ-Laugung auf einem Seltenerd-Bergwerk in Myanmar nahe zur Grenze nach China. Photo\/Foto: Global Witness<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The process of in situ leaching is extremely critical from an environmental point of view. Large areas of soil are infiltrated with the leaching solution (ammonium sulphate). During the leaching process, the leaching solution, and an altered soil environment (low pH) can activate toxic heavy metals such as lead and zinc in the soil. Heavy metal contamination of soils is serious, and their accumulation has also been observed in surface and groundwater (7, 8). The use of environmentally friendly production methods, such as the use of biotechnological methods (bioleaching), unfortunately does not take place, although these alternatives are available (9).<\/p>\n<p>Against the background that the recycling of rare earth ele\u00adments (REE) from end-of-life (EoL) products is less than 1\u2009% on a global scale and can be described as \u201clost by design\u201d (10, 11, 12), the questions are justified whether renewable forms of energy are truly sustainable and the term \u201cclean energy production\u201d is correct.<\/p>\n<p>Like the use of nuclear energy in the past, there will be a shift in the problem areas in terms of time and space. Given that the production of REE increasingly generates more emissions and waste, this issue is becoming more and more relevant.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<h4>3 \u00a0Rare earth elements and radioactivity<\/h4>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<figure id=\"attachment_16189\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16189\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_3_nachfrage_HL_magnete_windkraft.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16189 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_3_nachfrage_HL_magnete_windkraft.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_3_nachfrage_HL_magnete_windkraft.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_3_nachfrage_HL_magnete_windkraft-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_3_nachfrage_HL_magnete_windkraft-1024x478.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_3_nachfrage_HL_magnete_windkraft-768x358.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_3_nachfrage_HL_magnete_windkraft-600x280.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16189\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fig. 3. Demand for high-performance permanent magnets in wind power generators. \/\/ Bild 3. Nachfrage nach Hochleistungs-Permanentmagneten in Windkraftgeneratoren. Source\/Quelle: Drusche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Renewable energy technologies will be an important growth driver for the REE industry. Global demand for rare earth permanent magnets for wind turbines and hybrid and electric vehicles continues to grow (Figure 3). Wind turbines require neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets, which contain significant amounts of the REEs neodymium, praseodymium and dysprosium. For today\u2019s wind turbines with permanent magnet generators, the average specific demand for neodymium is 0.2 t\/MW (13). The demand for neodymium in wind turbines is forecast to be between 9,000 and 13,000 t in 2040 (14). In 2018, the global demand for neodymium for wind turbines was still 2,430 t (15).<\/p>\n<p>Since 2011, the raw material criticality of rare earths has become particularly relevant, given the market turbulence and price developments and the resulting supply risk (12). In addition to market issues, other aspects must be considered, e.\u2009g., regarding the value of the deposits containing REE. Some of the deposits are described as high grade or high volume. However, this does not necessarily mean that they will be commercially successful.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most controversial issues in REE is the presence of radioactivity in REE-bearing minerals, primarily thorium and uranium, although the REE themselves also have natural radioactive isotopes. Practically, the processing of monazite for rare earth production will produce a significant amount of thorium that needs to be managed safely to prevent the public concern and environmental impacts. According to an article published by the Chinese Rare Earth Society, the production of one ton of REE can also produce one ton of radioactive residue (16).<\/p>\n<p>The content of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) in geological formations of REE can vary from insignificant to high concentrations, requiring legislation and special care and close monitoring during extraction. The mining, separation, treatment and disposal of radioactive materials can result in high additional costs as well as risks to health and the environment (17). In practice, to avoid regulations and liabilities, ore deposits with low concentrations of radioactive elements are preferred. Long term REE mining is in need for careful assessment to find a sustainable balance between viable mining and environmental (18).<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the destruction of the natural environment, there are significant health impacts. The high levels of thorium oxide associated with REE have been known for some time (19, 20). The parent mineral monazite typically contains 3.5 to 10\u2009% thorium oxide and 0.1 to 0.4\u2009% uranium oxide. Thorium or thorium oxide should not be underestimated because of its radioactivity and toxicity. The ionizing radiation (decay type: \u03b1, \u03b3) can cause considerable damage to the organism when inhaled. With a specific activity of approximately 7,150 Bq\/g and a half-life T1\/2 of 14.05\u00a0Ma, thorium oxide is no longer classified as low-level waste (LLW) but as intermediate-level waste (ILW) by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Waste with a radioactivity of 1,010 to 1,015 Bq\/m\u00b3 is called intermediate level waste or ILW.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<h4>4\u00a0 Waste and emissions<\/h4>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<figure id=\"attachment_16190\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16190\" style=\"width: 1500px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_4_entwicklung_seltenerdelemente_produktion.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16190 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_4_entwicklung_seltenerdelemente_produktion.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1500\" height=\"700\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_4_entwicklung_seltenerdelemente_produktion.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_4_entwicklung_seltenerdelemente_produktion-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_4_entwicklung_seltenerdelemente_produktion-1024x478.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_4_entwicklung_seltenerdelemente_produktion-768x358.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_4_entwicklung_seltenerdelemente_produktion-600x280.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16190\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fig. 4. Development of global rare earth elements production. \/\/ Bild 4. Entwicklung der weltweiten Seltenerdelemente-Produktion. Source\/Quelle: Drusche<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>World production of REE in 2021 was approximately 280,000 t (Figure 4). Although the volume of mining is still small compared to iron and steel (1.9 bn t of crude steel) and copper (around 20\u00a0Mt), there is a growing need to limit emissions from the production of these minerals, as they are also associated with increasing emission potentials (21, 22).<\/p>\n<p>Reports on the waste management problems associated with the processing of rare earths at the Kuantan site of the Australian company Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. in Malaysia illustrate the importance of material flow management. Lynas claims to be an ethically and environmentally responsible producer of rare earths and the only producer of separated rare earths outside China (23).<\/p>\n<p>The REE concentrates produced at Mount Weld in Western Australia are shipped to Kuantan\/Malaysia. The Uranium and thorium grades of 11 ppm and 630 ppm, respectively, are in the upper range compared to other global deposits (24). There, processing continues by separating and segregating the REE concentrates from excess material. This process only generates more than 90,000 m<sup>3<\/sup>\/a of radioactive waste. According to Lynas Rare Earth Ltd., the commercial use of the recycled waste, e.\u2009g., as building materials, will reduce the solid residues. However, there are concerns that recycled building materials may be contaminated or radioactive (25). Another consideration for the company is to dilute the waste to a thorium concentration of less than 500 ppm, which is the maximum concentration allowed by international standards for the material to be disposed of without restrictions. The plan is to process 220,000 t\/a of waste using the \u201csolution by dilution\u201d approach (26). Environmental scientists see this as a poor solution.<\/p>\n<p>Dumping is not an alternative for environmental reasons and to protect the population and workers (27). The creation of a toxic legacy site adds an unjustified burden to the current generation of people and future generations. Sch\u00fcler et al. (28) cite the example of the Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union or China Northern Rare Earth mining company in their study, where REE are extracted as a by-product of iron ore. Data collected shows processing residues of 150 Mt (28). Additionally, there are approximnately 300 abandoned rare earth mines, 191 Mt of waste slag residues and tailings, and a contaminated forest area of 97 km<sup>2<\/sup> in Ganzhou\/China. It should take the government 70 years and cost around 4.9\u00a0bn\u00a0\u20ac to restore the environment (29).<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16191\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16191\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_5_kevnmh_wikimedia_commons.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16191 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/2025.mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_5_kevnmh_wikimedia_commons-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_5_kevnmh_wikimedia_commons-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_5_kevnmh_wikimedia_commons-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_5_kevnmh_wikimedia_commons-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_5_kevnmh_wikimedia_commons-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/mining-report.de\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2023\/06\/LCHD_5_kevnmh_wikimedia_commons.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16191\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fig. 5. Tailings ponds used in rare earth mining contain a variety of toxic chemicals and radioactive elements. \/\/ Bild 5. Absetzbecken bei der Gewinnung von Seltenen Erden enthalten eine Vielzahl von toxischen Chemikalien und radioaktiven Elementen. Photo\/Foto: Kevnmh\/Wikimedia Commons<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Tailings ponds contain significant amounts of thorium, which, together with the dust generated during processing, can massively pollute groundwater and air (30). The resulting air pollution \u2013 especially due to dust \u2013 can be irritating to the skin, toxic or carcinogenic, depending on its physico-chemical composition. The extensive tailings ponds contain a variety of toxic chemicals and radioactive elements (Figure 5). These exposures can significantly increase the mortality rate from lung cancer. In the absence of precautions, toxic substances can leach into rivers, groundwater and soil, affecting the health of the local population. Consequences of such continuous poisoning include diabetes, osteoporosis and chest and respiratory problems (31).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<h4>5 \u00a0Reuse of radioactive waste<\/h4>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<p>For the reasons outlined above, the level of radioactive elements needs to be considered in detail, as it on the one hand has an impact on the environment and a direct influence on the inhabitants of the mining areas, and on the other hand requires responsible mining of the valuable minerals in an economically and environmentally sound manner. Due to the increasing transparency of value chains and the resulting stakeholder awareness of environmental and social issues, these aspects have the potential to become the strongest lever for more future sustainable business models in REE mining.<\/p>\n<p>Current potential applications for thorium and thorium oxide are in welding electrodes, lamp construction, light bulb envelopes, alloys and optical lenses. A study by TH Georg Agricola University in Bochum\/Germany has looked at sustainable uses for thorium and thorium oxide, with a view to achieving a true industrial symbiosis within the framework of company networks (32).<\/p>\n<p>Currently, there is renewed interest in using thorium as a fuel source in nuclear technologies because thorium is more abundant than uranium (33). Thorium is considered a viable alternative to produce nuclear energy because it is an efficient fissile material that produces less unwanted waste than uranium. Government-supported projects on thorium-based nuclear power in China, India, Norway, USA and United Kingdom, e.\u2009g., could benefit from thorium extracted from REE processing (34, 35).<\/p>\n<p>In addition, the thorium isotope 232 (90Th232) is on average 3.5 times more abundant than uranium in the rocks of the Earth\u2019s crust. Global thorium resources are estimated at 6.4 Mt (5, 36). The world\u2019s economically recoverable thorium is estimated at around 2.61 Mt, with Australia and the USA leading the way with 489,000 and 400,000 t respectively. The European economies Turkey and Norway have 344,000 and 132,000 t respectively of thorium (35).<\/p>\n<p>Due to its \u2013 in comparison to uranium \u2013 short-lived radioactive waste (max. 300 years) and the high efficiency of thorium fuel elements, it has advantages over uranium (37). The use of thorium in the nuclear fuel cycle as a complement to the uranium\/plutonium cycle also shows potential for improving the medium-term usage of nuclear energy and its side effects. However, its widespread use requires large quantities of uranium 233, too, which is only available when thorium is used with \u201cclassical\u201d uranium\/plutonium fuels (38).<\/p>\n<p>In the longer term, the potential introduction of advanced reactor systems could provide an opportunity to realize the full benefits of a closed thorium and uranium 233 fuel cycle in dedicated breeder reactors currently at the design study stage.<\/p>\n<p>Nuclear power is another low-carbon form of energy, alongside the renewable forms of wind, solar and hydro. A complete switch to renewable energy can only be achieved with sufficient storage or back-up capacity. Life cycle assessments show that the CO<sub>2<\/sub>eq emissions of nuclear and wind energy over the entire life cycle are a factor of 5 lower than those of gas energy (39).<\/p>\n<p>According to a comparative study to determine the CO<sub>2<\/sub>\u00a0emissions of the most common types of power plant a coal-fired power plant emits approximately 950 g\/kWh of CO<sub>2<\/sub>, while a nuclear power plant emits approximately 30 g\/kWh. According to the source, not only the operation, but also the entire life cycle of the plants, including all production steps, was considered (40). Further studies show that the overall radiation exposure from the use of the rare earth metals neodymium and praseodymium in wind turbines is lower to much lower than that from nuclear power (41) but it is still significant and cannot be ignored in the \u201cpolitical arena\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Using thorium as a source material, reactors could be built to meet future energy needs. High potential is attributed to nuclear energy production with so-called \u201cGeneration IV\u201d reactor concepts, in particular the liquid salt reactor or molten salt reactor (MSR) technologies (42, 43). Innovations in reactor technology promise lower costs, improved passive safety, faster construction times, smaller absolute size, more flexible siting and the ability to use nuclear waste as fuel. However, these designs are less proven and supply chains for many of their components have not yet been developed (43). However, the future development of world energy requirements could open up the possibility of realizing the processing and marketing of thorium, especially for smaller MSR reactor applications, in a strategic time horizon (44).<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<h4>6 \u00a0Discussion and summary<\/h4>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n<p>It can be assumed that the use of renewable energy will enable more environmentally friendly energy production through decarbonization, which is also urgently needed in view of population growth.<\/p>\n<p>The rapid development of today\u2019s society, accompanied by an increasing demand for energy and environmentally friendly high technology, requires ever greater access to REEs. As the demand for these elements increases, so does the amount of waste, by-products and residues generated during the various stages of their production. All of this leads to increasing pollution of the environment and all its components. As a result, elevated concentrations of uranium and thorium have been detected in air, water and biota.<\/p>\n<p>However, the demand for a substantial contribution to climate protection by the EU based on renewable energy technologies is only possible if the raw materials, in this specific case rare earths, are mined responsibly and their by-products are used. Key challenges for responsible mining include growing waste issues, managing environmental externalities, integrating technological innovation and providing net social benefits to project affected communities. The use of environmentally sound production methods, the fulfilment of all recultivation tasks as an integral part of mining and the consideration and reduction of indirect costs\/externalities is a compelling necessity (45, 46). Internalizing costs of harmful effects will be an incentive for the mining industry to improve its sustainability performance.<\/p>\n<p>The permanent stock or the renewal and the development of wealth in a closed system with limited availability of resources is made possible by the circular economy through an economic approach in which the materials and energy used are not removed from the economic process as residues or waste but are fed back into the production or consumption process (47, 48).<\/p>\n<p>The reuse of thorium, which is a by-product of REE production, should be considered for this reason a necessary option for the future. In addition to the deposit and the resulting opportunities for long-term primary energy production independent of solar and wind, thorium has the potential to increase the fuel content for the nuclear chain reaction, thus reducing the amount of waste for the same amount of energy produced compared to uranium. The demand for a clean, safe and affordable source of nuclear energy will influence the growth of the thorium market (49). The thorium market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 4\u2009% from 2021 to 2028.<\/p>\n<p>As described above, thorium can be successfully returned to the economic cycle. If this does not happen, if the (radioactive) waste is not used but diluted, the intended environmental objectives will not be achieved. Utilization should take place under the aspect of energy and resource efficiency. A circular approach, circular business models could directly meet two environmental objectives of the EU: pollution prevention and control and the transition to a circular economy.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"toggle tie-sc-close\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"toggle-head\"><strong>References \/ Quellenverzeichnis<\/strong> <span class=\"fa fa-angle-down\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"toggle-content\">\n<p>(1) International Energy Agency (2022): World Energy Outlook. Paris\/Frankreich: IEA Publications International Energy Agency.<\/p>\n<p>(2) International Energy Agency (2021b): Net Zero by 2050 \u2013 A\u00a0Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector. Paris\/Frankreich: International Energy Agency.<\/p>\n<p>(3) European Commission (2020): Critical Raw Materials for Strategic Technologies and Sectors in the EU \u2013 A Foresight Study. Luxembourg: European Union.<\/p>\n<p>(4) Global Witness (2023): Myanmar\u2019s poisoned mountains. Von The toxic rare earth mining industry at the heart of the global green energy transition: www.globalwitness.org\/en\/campaigns\/natural-resource-governance\/myanmars-poisoned-mountains\/. Abgerufen 19. Februar 2023.<\/p>\n<p>(5) U.S. Geological Survey (2023): Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2022. Von Thorium: <a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.usgs.gov\/periodicals\/mcs2022\/mcs2022-thorium.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/pubs.usgs.gov\/periodicals\/mcs2022\/mcs2022-thorium.pdf<\/a>. Abgerufen 30. Januar 2023.<\/p>\n<p>(6) Krishnamurthy, N.; Gupta, C. (2016): Extractive Metallurgy of Rare Earths. Boca Raton: CRC Press Taylor &amp; Francis Group.<\/p>\n<p>(7) Zhang, Q. et al. (2020): Ammonia nitrogen sources and pollution along soil profiles in an in-situ leaching rare earth ore. Environmental Pollution.<\/p>\n<p>(8) Andritschke, N. (2023): Springer Professional \u2013 Umwelt\u00a0| Interview | Online-Artikel. Von \u201eChina behauptet seine Marktmacht bei Seltenen Erden\u201c: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.springerprofessional.de\/umwelt\/ressource\/-china-behauptet-seine-marktmacht-bei-seltenen-erden-\/16296906\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.springerprofessional.de\/umwelt\/ressource\/-china-behauptet-seine-marktmacht-bei-seltenen-erden-\/16296906<\/a>. Abgerufen 19. Februar 2023.<\/p>\n<p>(9) Hopfe, S.; Flemming, K.; Lehmann, F.; M\u00f6ckel, R.; Kutschke,\u00a0S.; Pollmann, K. (2017): Leaching of rare earth elements from fluorescent powder using the tea fungus Kombucha. In:\u00a0Waste Management, S. 211\u2009\u2013\u2009221.<\/p>\n<p>(10) Chen, J.; Gao, J. (2016): Ionic Liquids in the Context of Rare Earth Separation and Utilization. In: J. Chen, Application of Ionic Liquids on Rare Earth Green Separation and Utilization (S. 3-20). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.<\/p>\n<p>(11) International Energy Agency (2021a): The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions \u2013 World Energy Outlook Special Report. Paris\/Frankreich: International Energy Agency.<\/p>\n<p>(12) European Commission (2023): Study on the Critical Raw Materials for the EU 2023 \u2013 Final Report. Brussels: European Commission.<\/p>\n<p>(13) Wuppertal Institut (2014): KRESSE \u2013 Kritische mineralische Ressourcen und Stoffstr\u00f6me bei der Transformation des deutschen Energieversorgungssystems. Wuppertal: Wuppertal Institut f\u00fcr Klima, Umwelt, Energie.<\/p>\n<p>(14) Drusche, O. (Mai 2022): Untersuchungen an Bewertungssystemen f\u00fcr nachhaltigkeitsorientierte Gesch\u00e4ftsmodelle im Seltenerdelemente-Rohstoffsektor. Dissertation. Freiberg\/Sachsen: TU Bergakademie Freiberg.<\/p>\n<p>(15) Marscheider-Weidemann, F.; Langkau, S.; Eberling, E.; Erdmann, L.; Haendel, M.; Krail, M.; Tercero Espinoza, L. (2021): Rohstoffe f\u00fcr Zukunftstechnologien 2021. Berlin: Deutsche Rohstoffagentur (DERA) in der Bundesanstalt f\u00fcr Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe (BGR).<\/p>\n<p>(16) Hurst, C. (2010): China\u2019s Rare Earth Elements Industry: What Can the West Learn? Potomac\/Fort Leavenworth: Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS).<\/p>\n<p>(17) Yin, X.; Martineau, C.; Demers, I.; Basiliko, N.; Fenton, N.\u00a0J. (12. M\u00e4rz 2021): The potential environmental risks associated with the development of rare earth element production in Canada. In: Environmental Reviews, pp 354\u2009\u2013\u2009377. <a href=\"https:\/\/cdnsciencepub.com\/doi\/10.1139\/er-2020-0115\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">doi:10.1139\/er-2020-0115<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(18) Barakos, G.; Gutzmer, J.; Mischo, H. (2016): Strategic evaluations and mining process optimization towards a strong global REE supply chain. In: Journal of Sustainable Mining, pp\u00a026\u2009\u2013\u200935. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2300396016300179?via%3Dihub\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">doi:10.1016\/j.jsm.2016.05.002<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(19) Al-Areqi, W. M.; Zainul Bahri, C.; Majid, A. A.; Sarmani, S. (6. April 2016): Separation and Radiological Impact Assessment of Thorium in Malaysian Monazite Processing. In: Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences, pp 770\u2009\u2013\u2009776.<\/p>\n<p>(20) Neukirchen, F.; Ries, G. (2016): Die Welt der Rohstoffe. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlag.<\/p>\n<p>(21) Azevedo, M. et al. (2022): The raw-materials challenge: How the metals and mining sector will be at the core of enabling the energy transition. London, Wroclaw, Z\u00fcrich, Johannesburg, New York, Hong Kong: McKinsey &amp; Company.<\/p>\n<p>(22) U.S. Geological Survey (2021): Mineral commodity summaries 2021: U.S. Geological Survey, 200 p. Reston, Virginia. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.3133\/mcs2021\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">doi:10.3133\/mcs2021<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(23) Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. (2023). Von <a href=\"https:\/\/lynasrareearths.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/lynasrareearths.com<\/a>\/. Abgerufen 1. Februar 2023.<\/p>\n<p>(24) Kooroshy, J.; Tukker, A.; Walton, A. (2015): Strengthening the European rare earths supply chain: Challenges and policy options. ERECON.<\/p>\n<p>(25) R\u00fcttinger, L.; Treimer, R.; Tiess, G.; Griestop, L.; Sch\u00fcler, F.; Wittrock, J. (2014): Fallstudie zu den Umwelt- und Sozialauswirkungen der Gewinnung Seltener Erden in Mount Weld, Australien und der Raffination in Kuantan, Malaysia. Berlin: adelphi, S. 11\u2009\u2013\u200912.<\/p>\n<p>(26) Findei\u00df, M.; Sch\u00e4ffer, A. (2017): Fate and Environmental Impact of Thorium Residues During Rare Earth Processing. In: Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy (3), pp 179\u2009\u2013\u2009189. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.1007\/s40831-016-0083-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">doi:10.1007\/s40831-016-0083-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(27) Kamei, T. (27. September 2012): Recent Research of Thorium Molten-Salt Reactor from a Sustainability Viewpoint. In:\u00a0Sustainability, pp 2399\u2009\u2013\u20092418. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.3390\/su4102399\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.3390\/su4102399<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(28) Sch\u00fcler, D.; Buchert, M.; Liu, R.; Dittrich, S.; Merz, C. (2011): Study on Rare Earths and their Recycling. Darmstadt: \u00d6ko-Institut e. V.<\/p>\n<p>(29) Wu, L. (2023): Rehabilitation and Ecological Restoration at Nonferrous Mine Sites. Beijing: Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (BGRIMM).<\/p>\n<p>(30) Patel, K. S.; Sharma, S.; Maity, J. P.; Mart\u00edn-Ramos, P.; Fiket, \u017d.; Bhattacharya, P.; Zhu, Y. (2023): Occurrence of uranium, thorium and rare earth elements in the environment: A review. Frontiers in Environmental Science.<\/p>\n<p>(31) R\u00fcttinger, L.; Treimer, R.; Tiess, G.; Griestop, L.; Sch\u00fcler, F.; Wittrock, J. (2014): Fallstudie zu den Umwelt- und Sozialauswirkungen der Gewinnung Seltener Erden in Bayan Obo, China. Berlin: adelphi, S. 8.<\/p>\n<p>(32) M\u00fcller, G. (2020): Analyse m\u00f6glicher Anwendungsf\u00e4lle und Prozesse zur Aufbereitung von Thorium aus brasilianischem Monazit. Bachelorarbeit, Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola, Bochum. Unver\u00f6ffentlicht.<\/p>\n<p>(33) Jordan, B. W.; Eggert, R. G.; Dixon, B. W.; Carlsen, B. W. (2015): Thorium: Crustal abundance, joint production, and economic availability. In: Resources Policy, pp 81\u2009\u2013\u200993.<\/p>\n<p>(34) McNulty, T.; Hazen, N.; Park, S. (21. M\u00e4rz 2022): Processing the ores of rare earth elements. In: MRS Bulletin, pp\u00a0258\u2009\u2013\u2009266. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.1557\/s43577-022-00288-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1557\/s43577-022-00288-4<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(35) Rhodes, C. J. (6. Juni 2013): Current Commentary: Thorium-based nuclear power. In: Science Progress, pp 200\u2009\u2013\u2009209.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3184\/003685013X13692248406405\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">doi:10.3184\/003685013X13692248406405<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(36) Osterhage, W.; Frey, H. (2022): Transformation radioaktiver Abf\u00e4lle. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien.<\/p>\n<p>(37) Kausch, P.; Bertau, M.; Gutzmer, J.; Matschullat, J. (2014): Strategische Rohstoffe \u2013 Risikovorsorge. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.<\/p>\n<p>(38) Green Facts (2019): Green Facts \u2013 Facts on Health and the Environment. Kann Thorium zu einer Alternative f\u00fcr Kernbrennstoff werden? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenfacts.org\/de\/thorium-kernbrennstoff\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.greenfacts.org\/de\/thorium-kernbrennstoff\/index.htm<\/a>. Abgerufen 29. Oktober 2019.<\/p>\n<p>(39) Stagl, S. (2020): Die Taxonomie-Verordnung und Kernenergie unter Ber\u00fccksichtigung der DNSH-Kriterien: eine Literaturstudie. Wien: Bundesministeriums f\u00fcr Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilit\u00e4t, Innovation und Technologie.<\/p>\n<p>(40) Spiegel (2023): Statista. Aussto\u00df von CO<sub>2<\/sub>-Emissionen durch Stromkraftwerke nach Kraftwerktyp: <a href=\"https:\/\/de-statista-com.ezproxy.fh-muenster.de\/statistik\/daten\/studie\/38910\/umfrage\/hoehe-der-co2-emissionen-nach-kraftwerk\/?locale=de\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/de-statista-com.ezproxy.fh-muenster.de\/statistik\/daten\/studie\/38910\/umfrage\/hoehe-der-co2-emissionen-nach-kraftwerk\/?locale=de<\/a>. Abgerufen 7. April 2023.<\/p>\n<p>(41) Schmidt, G. (M\u00e4rz 2015): Gleich und gleich? Die Strahlenbilanz von Wind- und Atomkraft. (\u00d6.-I. e.V., Hrsg.) eco@work, S. 18.<\/p>\n<p>(42) Allibert, M.; Aufiero, M.; Brovchenko, M.; Delpech, S.; Ghetta, V.; Heuer, D.; Merle-Lucotte, E. (2016): Molten salt fast reactors. In: Pioro, I. L.: Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors, pp 157\u2009\u2013\u2009188. Elsevier Ltd. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.1016\/B978-0-08-100149-3.00007-0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">doi:10.1016\/B978-0-08-100149-3.00007-0<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(43) Cramer, C.; Lacivita, B.; Laws, J.; Malik, M. N.; Olynyk, G. (2023): What will it take for nuclear power to meet the climate challenge? Columbus, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Toronto: McKinsey &amp; Company.<\/p>\n<p>(44) Pioro, I. L.; Duffey, R. B.; Kirillov, P. L.; Panchal, R. (2016): Introduction: a survey of the status of electricity generation in the world. In: Pioro, I. L.: Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors, pp 1\u2009\u2013\u200934. Amsterdam: Elsevier Ltd. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.1016\/B978-0-08-100149-3.00001-X\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.1016\/B978-0-08-100149-3.00001-X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(45) Drebenstedt, C. (2019): Responsible mining approach for sustainable development \u2013 research concept and solutions. In: Journal of Engineering Sciences and Innovation (2), pp\u00a0197\u2009\u2013\u2009218.<\/p>\n<p>(46) Schneider, N. R. (2020): Ecopreneurship \u2013 Business practices for a sustainable future. Berlin\/Boston: Walter de Gruyter GmbH.<\/p>\n<p>(47) Drusche, O.; Krause, S.; Kretschmann, J.; Mischo, H.; Ayres da Silva, A. L. (30. November 2021): Business Models for Sustainability. In: \u00d6kologisches Wirtschaften, 36(4), S. 43\u2009\u2013\u200950. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.14512\/OEW360443\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.14512\/OEW360443<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(48) Makhathini, T. P.; Bwapwa, J. K.; Mtsweni, S. (31. Januar 2023): Various Options for Mining and Metallurgical Waste in the Circular Economy: A Review. In: Sustainability, pp 1\u2009\u2013\u200921. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.doi.org\/10.3390\/su15032518\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">10.3390\/su15032518<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>(49) Data Bridge Market Research. (2023): Materials &amp; Packaging. Global Thorium Market \u2013 Industry Trends and Forecast to 2028: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.databridgemarketresearch.com\/reports\/global-thorium-market\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.databridgemarketresearch.com\/reports\/global-thorium-market<\/a>. Abgerufen 29. Januar 2023.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"one_third tie-columns\"><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/_pda\/2023\/06\/MRG_2303_low_carbon_high_damage_Drusche_230612.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"shortc-button small white\">Download article as PDF<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"two_third tie-columns last\"><strong>Authors\/Autoren: <\/strong>Dr.-Ing. Olaf Drusche, Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola (THGA), Bochum\/Germany, Prof. Dr. rer. pol. J\u00fcrgen Kretschmann, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen\/Germany\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div>\n\t\t<hr style=\"margin-top:10px; margin-bottom:10px;\" class=\"divider divider-normal\">\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Achieving the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5 \u00b0C will require massive investment in renewable energy. The transition to a decarbonized energy system &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[940,315],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16177","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-fachartikel-03_2023","category-open-access"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Low Carbon \u2013 High Damage? 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