Episode 49: μ: Securing Metals Supply

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal pointed out that building one wind turbine requires 900 tons of steel, 2,500 tons of concrete and 45 tons of plastic and a single electric vehicle will require the digging up, moving, and processing of over 500,000 pounds of raw materials! As we transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy and storage we will need to drastically increase the production and availability of metals including lithium, rare-earth elements, nickel, tin, tungsten and more. Where will we find these metals? In this episode we discuss this with Brian Menell, CEO of TechMet Ltd.

Articles Discussed:

• 2019, Mills, If You Want ‘Renewable Energy,’ Get Ready to Dig, Wall Street Journal LINK
• 2021, Mining investor TechMet closes second funding round at $120 million, Reuters LINK
• 2021, RCE Q&A With TechMet CEO, Brian Menell, on the Metal Supply Chain, Real Clear Energy LINK

This episode is sponsored TechMet a private company focused in the production, processing, and recycling of Co, Li, Ni, REE, Sn, W, and V. The episode is also sponsored by Matmatch. Check out how they can help you find the perfect material for your next engineering project! This episode is also sponsored by Materials Today, an Elsevier community dedicated to the creation and sharing of materials science knowledge and experience through their peer-reviewed journals, academic conferences, educational webinars, and more.

Thanks to Kolobyte and Alphabot for letting us use their music in the show!

If you have questions or feedback please send us emails at materialism.podcast@gmail.com or connect with us on social media: Instagram and Twitter.

Materialism Team: Taylor Sparks (co-host, co-creator), Andrew Falkowski (co-host, co-creator), Jared Duffy production, marketing, and editing), Ramsey Issa (editing assistance).

Keywords: metals mining extractive metallurgy batteries electric vehicles geopolitical

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