Metals in the Energy Transition

About the event

This Dutch-language webinar is for you if you are interested in circularity and the energy transition.

Context

All solar panels, wind turbines, electric cars and power cables contain metals. The energy transition increases the demand for ‘energy metals’, such as lithium, cobalt, neodymium, and copper. These metals have to be dug up from the ground and mining often carries social and geopolitical risks, especially because of metal scarcity.

We can’t keep postponing action against the climate emergency. We need to prevent metal scarcity from slowing down the energy transition while protecting the environment and human rights from destructive mining.

In this webinar, we will discuss several circular strategies and solutions that can contribute to a more sparing use of metals–and may also offer economic opportunities. We will follow the circularity ladder: from refuse via reduce to recycle.

With the help of expert speakers, we will focus on three solutions:

• Smarter mobility: from private cars to bicycles, public transport and shared e-cars (refuse, rethink)
• A more efficient use of the (tight) power grid by combining wind and solar energy, putting generation near consumption and making demand more flexible (rethink, reduce).
• Circular solar panels (reuse, refurbish, re-manufacture, recycle).

How can politicians, from the European to the local level, work on solutions for metal scarcity? Together with speakers and participants, we will map out the political instruments.

Speakers

Pieter van Exter (@pvanexter), lead Circular Industries at Metabolic

Mariet de Haas (@lepus2), co-ordinator Shared Mobility and Mobility Hubs for the City of Rotterdam

Roebyem Anders (@roebyem), co-founder of Sungevity International

Berend Potjer (@berendpotjer), regional minister for Energy, Nature and Biodiversity in the province of Zuid-Holland

Richard Wouters @richardwouters, project leader ‘Metals for a Green and Digital Europe’ for the Green European Foundation and Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks

Practicalities

Date and time: Friday 7 January, from 14:00 to 16:00 CET

Audience: This webinar will take place in Dutch and is open to the general public.

Registrations: here

This event will be organised through the Zoom platform.

Inspiration: You can prepare for this webinar by reading our publication ‘Metals for a Green and Digital Europe’. Download it for free in English, Dutch, French, Spanish or Czech.

This project is organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of Wetenschappelijk Bureau GroenLinks and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this event.