The Role of Power Electronics for the Raw Material Demand of the Energy Transition

Abstract

The global energy system is transitioning to renewable energy to phase out fossil fuels and combat climate change. Large amounts of PV and wind capacity will be added and the whole transport system will change to electric vehicles to reach the global goals of becoming climate neutral. A lot of additional raw materials will be needed for all technologies relevant for these transitions. Some literature even suggests that this increased demand will lead to raw material bottlenecks in the next decades.

Power electronics is a crucial enabling technology for the transition but is often overlooked in research. While the material demand of other technologies is well examined, there are no indepth studies regarding the material demand of power electronics. Considering the important role power electronics play in the success of the transition, this is a research gap that needs to be filled.

Therefore, this thesis was conducted to analyse the role of power electronics for the raw material demand of the energy transition. The power electronics devices necessary for energy generation technologies, energy storage and electric vehicles were considered. The innovative approach of this thesis included determining one representative device and its material demand for each technology. Based on the results of analysing six representative devices, a scenario analysis on both a global and a German level was realised. This approach determined the future material demand. While doing this, the most important technological developments in power electronics and their potential impact on material demand were identified.

This analysis shows that the material demand for power electronics for the energy transition will multiply in the coming years, regardless of which scenario is considered. It will lead to an immense demand for many different materials, especially copper, aluminium, and iron. Electric vehicles are projected to have the highest power electronics material demand among the technologies considered.

Raw material bottlenecks are not expected specifically due to power electronics for the energy transition. This is mostly because power electronics account for only a small amount of the total material demand of the energy transition. Wide bandgap semiconductors, increased voltages and more circularity through recycling and circular design are identified as the key technological developments in power electronics. This thesis quantifies the enormous potential for raw material savings these developments have.