A CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS OF STRATEGIC MATERIALS TOWARDS ENERGY TRANSITION

Global consumption of materials is rising rapidly leading to an increase in environmental impacts associated with the supply chain. Similar issues also affect a set strategic for transition towards sustainable energy production and distribution system: i.e. employed renewable (wind turbines photovoltaic panels), storage, electrolysers, electricity networks electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The analysis identifies, maps defines priority hierarchy risks generated along life-cycle raw materials. Standard construction material such as iron, steel concrete showed lowest whereas platinum iridium presented by far highest (respectively 24.098,04 14.732,51 kg CO2 eq, 353.893,39 215.934,28 MJ, 140,24 83,20 m3 water 1 material). Recycled have shown enable lowering risk some processes (i.e. copper, lead, aluminium, nickel, manganese), specific platinum, iridium, indium, dysprosium) related applications will need be monitored guarantee energies.