With 2022 right around the corner, the lithium market is stronger than ever. This year saw a wide range of developments that affected the wider clean transition movement and had subsequent positive outcomes for the lithium sector. Here is a recap of 2021’s major lithium developments, and a look at what is to come: Biden …
Introduction: Fighting for a Sustainable Future As the United Nations (UN) climate change conference (COP26) looms, the need for global cooperation and collaboration has never been more clear. In order to meet the goals laid out for a transition towards a sustainable future, knowledge-sharing between industries, governments and academics is a must. Breakthroughs in technology …
Introduction: Lithium Batteries and Climate Change With pressure from voters mounting, many countries are announcing their intent to reach net-zero emissions by mid-century in an effort to reduce the impacts of climate change. Although not everyone is convinced by the ability of major economies to shift so rapidly towards a low-carbon system, there is a …
Introduction: A Promise for the Future In 2009 the European Union enacted a directive that set a goal of 20% of the entire bloc’s energy consumption to be from renewable sources by 2020. Meant to encourage sustainable development and the implementation of clean energy technology and infrastructure across the EU, it was seen as a …
Introduction: Sustainability, Mining, and Ethical Dilemmas Mining has long been viewed as an unsustainable practice and brings with it contentious reputations when it comes to repartition of wealth, the ecological damage it can cause, and general compliance failures. Lithium extraction too has a spotty record globally, but lithium demand is skyrocketing amid the global transition …
Introduction: Finding an Opportunity for Grid Scale Lithium-Ion Batteries The state of South Australia is home to the Hornsdale Power Reserve, the world’s largest lithium-ion battery energy storage complex. It gained prominence thanks to a challenge issued by Elon Musk to a South Australian government seeking solutions to strengthen its grid and energy storage capacity …
Introduction: Sweeping Changes to Climate Policy Joe Biden can be the green energy president. With promises to tackle the world’s climate change crisis at the top of his agenda, there is renewed hope for igniting renewable energy and climate change initiatives. Under the Trump Administration, federal funding was slashed for climate change research and the …
Introduction: Innovation, Governance, and Lithium Bolivia is on the verge of a revolutionary boom. After years of missed opportunities under the previous and interim administrations, Bolivian presidential hopeful Luis Arce recognizes the nation’s richest national resource will be the key to creating a strong economic power. Lithium, often referred to as “white petroleum”, is an …
Introduction: Changing Market Demands Reflecting the global shift towards a more sustainable way of life, Tesla has overtaken Toyota to become the world’s most valuable carmaker. Tesla initially exceeded Toyota’s market value in early July posting a valuation of $206.5 billion – over $4 billion more than the Japanese giant, and three times the value …
Introduction: A Silver Lining While the world grapples with the outbreak of the coronavirus, renewable energy has been setting records in power generation, market share, and reliability. Travel restrictions call for self-isolation, and a shift towards working from home has led to a drop in electricity demand. This has caused expensive fossil fuel power plants …