After China implemented multiple restrictions on the import of rare earth minerals, the world began a race to find new mines capable of meeting its needs. Furthermore, research teams began to explore new methods for extracting and processing these minerals while also enhancing the utilization of green energy sources. In this movement, countries across the world made plans to enhance the resilience of their critical mineral supply chains, and for some of them, it may be a little bit ambitious. During this search, a continent found a unicorn underwater that may change everything by producing 45,000 tons per year.
This discovery may help this continent achieve an ambitious goal
With the race for autonomy on the mining and processing of critical raw materials, countries around the world are setting plans to overcome the difficulties caused by the import restrictions made by China. At the same time, the search for new renewable energy sources keeps moving with technological advances.
In front of this scenario, where the world aims for a sustainable future, this continent may have found a unicorn underwater. Once they meet the need to explore it, they will be one step closer to autonomy.
One of the first measures implemented by Europe was the establishment of an act with ambitious goals to enhance the resilience of its critical mineral supply chain. The goals, whose deadline is by 2030, involve mining, processing, and recycling critical raw materials, such as lithium, which is the basis for producing electronic devices. In the act, the EU is expected to process 25% of its lithium requirements, and recycle 15% of its lithium needs. But another discovery, that may be better than lithium, was made underwater.
They found an offshore green hydrogen production site, and already know how to use it
During the efforts to discover alternative forms of renewable energy sources and to supply the needs of critical raw materials, UK-based Centrica and Lhyfe, a French hydrogen company, launched a pilot project to demonstrate the feasibility of offshore green hydrogen production. The project covers all the processes, from producing the green hydrogen to storage and distribution.
In a statement, made by Colin Brown, UK and Ireland country manager at Lhyfe, explained that this agreement may represent a new era for the clean energy transition in Europe.
“We are pleased to announce this agreement with Centrica, which represents an exciting opportunity to drive forward the clean energy transition through large-scale offshore green hydrogen production. Offshore electrolysis coupled with hydrogen storage will maximise the huge potential of offshore wind around the UK,” states Brown.
With the actions promoted by this agreement, the EU intends also to amplify the production of wind energy offshore, which also plays an important part in the plans of autonomy and the shift to renewable energy. The expectation is that the green hydrogen may help to decarbonise the UK’s power supply in 10 years.
Besides the benefits, the company may face many barriers
Besides the plans and benefits that a new offshore site to produce, store, and distribute green hydrogen would create, the company still needs to face several barriers to make it possible. According to specialists, funding bottlenecks, high start-up costs, and the lack of harmonised policies are just a few of the barriers faced by the project.
Despite these inconveniences, green hydrogen is expected to be one of the propulsors of the shift to a decarbonized power supply in Europe and even a shift away from lithium.
Europe wants to be at the forefront of renewable energy production and the recycling of critical raw materials
With this act and the plans for an offshore green hydrogen production project, Europe aims to lead in renewable energy production and the recycling of critical raw materials, thereby becoming self-sufficient in these technologies. Besides being ambitious, the act also reflects the capacity of some European countries to explore these resources and produce new devices capable of improving and optimizing their processes. Indeed, some countries have already started to implement new technologies and wind energy sites that will help achieve this goal.