Materials and energy : a story of linkages

Kleijn, E.G.M. (2012)

Doctoral Thesis

Human society has always depended on a substantial input of materials. At the moment our energy supply is almost completely based on fossil fuels with minor contributions of biomass and uranium based nuclear. Climate science tells us that, in order to avoid catastrophic impacts, we need a transition to a low-carbon energy system in the next few decades. This means we will need to build a new energy system almost from scratch including wind turbines, solar cells, carbon capture and storage and a smart supergrid. In this work the material requirements of such a transition are analysed. It is concluded that a substantial upscaling of current mining activities is needed very quickly in order to be able to supply the metals needed for this energy transition

• Energy technology
• Linkages of sustainability
• Low-carbon
• Material requirements
• Natural resources
• Resource depletion
• Resource scarcity

• All authors: Kleijn, E.G.M.
• Supervisor: Kramer, G.J.
• Co-supervisor: Voet, E. van der
• Committee: Graedel, T.E.; Tukker, A.; Worrell, E.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Faculty of Sciences, Leiden University
• Date: 2012-09-05
• ISBN (print): 9789090269382
• Court: Universiteit Leiden