Study on future material requirements of the national grid infrastructure to reach net zero

Jackson, R.; Kemp, D.; Rahman, A.; Turner, T.; Cave, S.; Wildblood, R.. 2024 Study on future material requirements of the national grid infrastructure to reach net zero. Nottingham, UK, British Geological Survey, 72pp. (CR/24/146N) (Unpublished)

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Official URL: https://ukcmic.org/reports/cmic.html

Abstract/Summary

The UK’s climate change ambitions are transforming the energy sector. The clean energy transition objective cannot be met without access to energy transition minerals, of which several are identified as ‘critical’. The UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy identifies the need to establish resilient supply chains and to understand dependencies and future demand trends that may adversely influence which critical minerals are needed to achieve UK net zero targets. This study assesses the security of supply of aluminium (Al) and copper (Cu) essential for upgrading the electricity grid in Great Britain (GB) to adapt to the decentralisation of power generation driven by renewable energy, and mass electrification associated with consumer technologies, energy storage and distribution. Al and Cu requirements for upgrading the grid based on national forecasts of infrastructure projects are considered. The scope of this study included those components in the transmission and distribution networks with high Cu or Al content, namely: • overhead lines • underground and subsea cables • interconnectors • converters • transformers • solar connections • lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale storage • electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure Assumptions made as part of the study approach were validated by a range of Government and private sector stakeholders throughout the project. The findings of the study highlight key challenges and bottlenecks within the upstream Cu and Al global supply chains and in the component and product supply chains.

Item Type:	Publication - Report
Funders/Sponsors:	British Geological Survey, Department for Business & Trade, Decision Analysis Services Ltd.
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed.
Date made live:	21 May 2025 11:27 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539473

Item Type:

Publication - Report

Funders/Sponsors:

British Geological Survey, Department for Business & Trade, Decision Analysis Services Ltd.

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

This item has been internally reviewed, but not externally peer-reviewed.

Date made live:

21 May 2025 11:27 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539473