| Title | Thermodynamic Rarity and Recyclability of Raw Materials in the Energy Transition: The Need for an In-Spiral Economy |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 27192 |
| Authors | Valero, A; Valero, A |
| Title | Thermodynamic Rarity and Recyclability of Raw Materials in the Energy Transition: The Need for an In-Spiral Economy |
| Year | 2019 |
| Published | Entropy, 21.0, 9 |
| Abstract | This paper presents a thermodynamic vision of the depletion of mineral resources. It demonstrates how raw materials can be better assessed using exergy, based on thermodynamic rarity, which considers scarcity in the crust and energy requirements for extracting and refining minerals. An exergy analysis of the energy transition reveals that, to approach a decarbonized economy by 2050, mineral exergy must be greater than that of fossil fuels, nuclear energy, and even all renewables. This is because clean technologies require huge amounts of many different raw materials. The rapid exhaustion of mines necessitates an increase in recycling and reuse, that is, a "circular economy". As seen in the automobile industry, society is far removed from closing even the first cycle, and absolute circularity does not exist. The Second Law dictates that, in each cycle, some quantity and quality of materials is unavoidably lost (there are no circles, but spirals). For a rigorous recyclability analysis, we elaborate the exergy indicators to be used in the assessment of the true circularity of recycling processes. We aim to strive toward an advanced economy focused on separating techniques and promoting circularity audits, an economy that inspires new solutions: an in-spiral economy. |
| https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/21/9/873/pdf?version=1567933424 |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
1002
|
Schmidt, M The Resource-Energy Nexus as a Key Factor for Circular Economy(2021)Chemie Ingenieur Technik, 93, 11 | |
| 5593
|
Schüpfer, D; Wagner-Wenz, R; Hendrich, K; Weidenkaff, A Materials come around and go around: Adapting to nature's circularity(2023)Mrs Bulletin, 48, 11 | |
| 2362
|
Nilsen, HR The hierarchy of resource use for a sustainable circular economy(2019)International Journal Of Social Economics, 47, 1 | |
| 39
|
Salatino, P; Chirone, R; Clift, R Chemical engineering and industrial ecology: Remanufacturing and recycling as process systems(2023)Canadian Journal Of Chemical Engineering, 101, 1 | |
| 21578
|
Reini, M; Casisi, M Is the Evolution of Energy System Productive Structures Driven by a Physical Principle?(2021) | |
| 2993
|
Karali, N; Shah, N Bolstering supplies of critical raw materials for low-carbon technologies through circular economy strategies(2022) | |
| 3332
|
Hagelüken, C; Goldmann, D Recycling and circular economy-towards a closed loop for metals in emerging clean technologies(2022)Mineral Economics, 35, 3-4 | |
| 1999
|
Mulvaney, D; Richards, RM; Bazilian, MD; Hensley, E; Clough, G; Sridhar, S Progress towards a circular economy in materials to decarbonize electricity and mobility(2021) | |
| 20229
|
Birat, JP Life-cycle assessment, resource efficiency and recycling(2015)Metallurgical Research & Technology, 112, 2 | |
| 971
|
Van Caneghem, J; Van Acker, K; De Greef, J; Wauters, G; Vandecasteele, C Waste-to-energy is compatible and complementary with recycling in the circular economy(2019)Clean Technologies And Environmental Policy, 21, 5 |