While millions of tons of minerals are already used each year for clean energy purposes, demand is expected to increase significantly over the next two decades, according to the International Energy Agency. Electric vehicles, electric power networks and solar and wind energy production all require certain key minerals, such as copper, nickel, lithium and graphite, to function.

Source: “Total mineral demand for clean energy technologies by scenario, 2020 compared to 2040,” executive summary, International Energy Agency, 2021, https://tinyurl.com/4sp22vwn

Data for the graphic are as follows:

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