World Mining for Renewables Figures Collection (4 of 20): Mineral & Metal Resources for Solar PV Marketplace

This post is the fourth edition of a 20 posts collection with global data to explain the relationship of Solar PV and Wind Energy world markets with the mining industry (extractive industries). We will check the production of metals, industrial and construction minerals to build solar modules and windmills around the world. In the end of the article, you can find the links to the other 3 articles of the collection.

In the next 5 years (2018 - 2022), the Solar PV marketplace will require 124.18 million tones of minerals and metals

Main Results

In the following article, we will analyze specific metals and industrial minerals, however, in the present article, we are focused on the requirements for major families of minerals to build world Solar PV facilities.

Tones of Materials

In the next 5 years (2018 – 2022), the Solar PV marketplace will require 124.18 million tones of minerals and metals:

• 18.38 million tons of Aggregates (included in the concrete installations supporting solar panels) meaning the 14.8% of total extractive industry materials.
• 38.63 million tons of Industrial Minerals (mainly low iron quartz),  meaning the 31.11% of total extractive industry materials.
• 47.11 million tones of Metals, meaning the 37.94% of total extractive industry materials.
• 20 million tones for energy minerals (mainly metallurgical coal), meaning the 16.14% of total extractive industry materials.

 

 

Size of the Market

Based on November 2017 market commodity prices, the size of the market 2018 – 2022 (both included) will reach the 50,478 USD million:

• 754 USD million for Aggregates (0.8% of total extractive industry products)
• 2,617 USD million for Industrial Minerals (2.09% of total extractive industry products)
• 118,657 USD million for Metals (94.96% of total value extractive industry products)
• 2,933 USD million for Energy Minerals (2.35% of total extractive industry products)

Market trends 2015 – 2022

In the following image you can observe the trend of mineral and metal consumption for the world Solar PV market since 2015 to 2022:

• Aggregates: 1.91 (2015) to 4.23 (2022) million Tones
• Industrial Minerals: 4.02 (2015) to 8.89 (2022) million Tones
• Metals: 5,26 (2015) to 10.84 (2022) million Tones
• Energy Minerals: 2.09 (2015) to 4.61 (2022) million Tones
• Total Mining: 12.98 (2015) to 27.9 (2022) million Tones
• Total Mining & Oil: 13.28 (2015) to 28.57 (2022) million Tones

 

Procedure of Calculation

1. Determination of composition for solar PV

Following two images, source IRENA 2017 data and Vestas 2015, we build an equivalent matrix between tonnes of minerals and metals with MWp for solar and wind energy facilities. Plastics are included in the division of «oil derived products»,

Solar PV Materials composition

Wind Energy Materials composition

 

The market for minerals and metals to produce Solar PV facilities (2018-2022) will reach the 50,478 USD millions

2. Determination of Energy for major common materials,

Energy, including fuel and electricity, for major materials involving the needs for minerals and metals, is a complex subject for discussion. We have to include not only the energy requirements for mining but also to transform into other products as metals or glass. We use the following source of information to determine the energy to take (on average) to produce 1 kilogram of the following materials in Lower Tech Magazine.  

A. Involving Ferrous Metals

• Steel (from recycled steel): 6-15MJ (1,665 to 4,170 watt-hours)
• Steel (from iron): 20-50MJ (5,550 to 13,900 watt-hours)
• Iron (from iron ore): 20-25MJ (5,550 to 6,950 watt-hours)
• The composition of Steel:
  • Ratio Iron Ore to Steel: 1.25
  • Ratio Metallurgical Coal to Steel: 0.625

B. Involving Base Metals

• Aluminum (from 100 % recycled aluminum): 11.35-17MJ (3,150 to 4,750 watt-hours)
• Aluminum (from a typical mix of 80% virgin and 20% recycled aluminum): 219 MJ (60,800 watt-hours)
• Aluminum (from bauxite): 227-342MJ (63,000 to 95,000 watt-hours)
• Nickel (from ore concentrate): 230-270MJ (63,900 to 75,000 watt-hours)
• Copper (from sulfide ore): 60-125MJ (16,600 to 34,700 watt-hours)

C. Involving Precious Metals

• The approach for Silver is made following the data of The Silver Institute. About 10% of global application of Silver deals to the Solar PV modules as Ross Beaty confirmed in the conference of Mines & Money Americas last October 2017.

D. Involving Industrial Minerals

• Silicon (from silica): 230-235MJ (63,900 to 65,300 watt-hours)
• Electronic grade silicon (CVD process): 7,590-7,755MJ (2,108,700 to 2,154,900 watt-hours).
• Glass (from sand, etcetera): 18-35MJ (5,000 to 9,700 watt-hours). Quartz is 
• Plastics (from crude oil): 62-108MJ (17,200 to 31,950 watt-hours)
• Titanium (from ore concentrate): 900-940MJ (250,000 to 261,000 watt-hours)

E. Involving Construction and Industrial Minerals

• Composition of Concrete, Glass, and Fiberglass

 

 

 

3. Balance previous data with Solar PV and Wind Energy market facilities

We adjust the precedent data with Solar PV and Wind Energy market data. Sourcing:

• Wind Energy Market data: World Wind Energy Association 2016 and 2017
• Solar PV Data: GTM Research  2017

 

Previous Posts

World Mining for Renewables (1 of 20): The Solar PV Market

World Mining for Renewables (2 of 20): The Wind Energy Market

World Mining for Renewables (3 of 20): The Solar PV & Wind Energy Markets

Next Post (5 of 20)

Under next article, we will analyze the demands for Mineral & Metal Resources for Wind Energy Marketplace.

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