Recycling of critical materials for the renewable energy sectors: technology analysis and supply chain modelling

In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the average mineral demand, attributable to the growing share of renewable energy sources, that require higher quantities of minerals compared to their fossil fuel-based counterparts. This sharp increase presents therefore a promising landscape for industrial development, even though different obstacles such as fluctuating prices, supply chain bottlenecks, and geopolitical tensions, have to be faced. Furthermore, most critical raw materials are extracted and processed abroad, thus making their supply affected by several uncontrollable factors. These issues combine to pose significant risks to ensuring stable and quick transitions toward sustainable energy. This topic is strictly correlated to the recycling of these materials, since the production of huge amounts of waste electrical and electronic equipment is taking place globally, holding significant amounts of minerals which can be extracted, reclaimed, and reused. The purpose of this work is therefore the development of supply chain models for the critical raw materials contained in three different technologies, encompassing also their recycle processes. The focus will be on photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles, collectively constituting a significant portion of clean energy technologies, in the geographic area of the North of Italy.