展望未來(lái),面對(duì)后疫情時(shí)代的不確定性和氣候變化的威脅,全世界逐漸認(rèn)識(shí)到人類面臨的諸多挑戰(zhàn)。然而,很少有人意識(shí)到電池在創(chuàng)建綠色未來(lái)方面的巨大潛力。
鋰離子電池體積小巧,通常被隱藏在電子設(shè)備內(nèi)部,但它們是我們?nèi)粘I钪胁豢苫蛉钡囊徊糠帧N覀兠刻焓褂玫脑S多技術(shù),包括智能手機(jī)、平板電腦和計(jì)算機(jī)等,都離不開鋰離子電池。類似的電池被廣泛應(yīng)用于無(wú)人機(jī)、醫(yī)療器械、園藝設(shè)備等各種用途。[歐亞資源集團(tuán)(Eurasian Resources Group)和First Cobalt公司(First Cobalt Corp.)供應(yīng)生產(chǎn)鋰離子電池的原材料鈷。]
毫無(wú)疑問,鋰離子電池最重要的最終用途是電動(dòng)汽車。2020年,雖然在新冠疫情期間,汽車的總銷量下滑了五分之一,但全球電動(dòng)汽車的銷量年同比卻增長(zhǎng)了43%,總計(jì)超過300萬(wàn)輛。電動(dòng)汽車將改變?nèi)虻奶枷倪M(jìn)程,因此,鋰離子電池將成為實(shí)現(xiàn)可持續(xù)未來(lái)的關(guān)鍵一環(huán)。
未來(lái)幾十年,我們會(huì)看到對(duì)鋰、鈷、鎳、石墨等電池核心原材料的需求激增,造成這種現(xiàn)象的其中一個(gè)關(guān)鍵因素是新能源汽車市場(chǎng)的增長(zhǎng)。
此外,環(huán)境可持續(xù)性和新能源汽車也是各國(guó)在后疫情時(shí)代實(shí)施經(jīng)濟(jì)刺激計(jì)劃的核心,歐洲和亞洲國(guó)家紛紛發(fā)布了致力于實(shí)現(xiàn)綠色復(fù)蘇的一攬子計(jì)劃。以負(fù)責(zé)任的方式開采的重要金屬將是此次全球經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇的基礎(chǔ)。然而,我們必須注意到在增加電池原材料供應(yīng)方面的諸多挑戰(zhàn)。
首先,由于新項(xiàng)目有較長(zhǎng)的前置時(shí)間并且需要投入大量資本,因此電池原材料的價(jià)格未來(lái)將持續(xù)上漲。技術(shù)進(jìn)步和規(guī)模經(jīng)濟(jì)從長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)來(lái)看能夠幫助降低采礦成本,但由于最容易開展的原材料項(xiàng)目早已投產(chǎn),而在近期內(nèi)新礦藏的開發(fā)成本更高。
加強(qiáng)供應(yīng)鏈安全也是電池行業(yè)未來(lái)發(fā)展的關(guān)鍵。剛果民主共和國(guó)約占全球鈷產(chǎn)量的70%,作為電池原材料的鈷絕大部分產(chǎn)自這個(gè)國(guó)家。因此,剛果民主共和國(guó)依舊將是這些金屬的主要供應(yīng)國(guó)。
然而,在電池原材料加工行業(yè),中國(guó)的主導(dǎo)地位未來(lái)可能受到挑戰(zhàn)。中國(guó)目前在該行業(yè)的市場(chǎng)份額預(yù)計(jì)達(dá)到80%。
但歐洲和北美已經(jīng)開始采取措施吸引電池生產(chǎn)商,下一步將是支持發(fā)展電池原材料加工產(chǎn)能。因此,西方國(guó)家政府應(yīng)該會(huì)扶持國(guó)內(nèi)的電池原材料項(xiàng)目,與中國(guó)同行公平競(jìng)爭(zhēng)。
提高價(jià)值鏈的透明度和支持循環(huán)利用,是保證價(jià)值鏈在環(huán)境、社會(huì)和經(jīng)濟(jì)等方面具有可行性的關(guān)鍵。
長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)目標(biāo)應(yīng)該是通過區(qū)塊鏈等解決方案,驗(yàn)證企業(yè)在環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理(ESG)方面的合規(guī)情況以及原材料的來(lái)源,從而加快負(fù)責(zé)任采購(gòu),推廣可持續(xù)發(fā)展。實(shí)現(xiàn)這些目標(biāo)是全球電池聯(lián)盟(Global Battery Alliance)推行其核心計(jì)劃“電池護(hù)照”(Battery Passport)的關(guān)鍵。該計(jì)劃旨在對(duì)電池的可持續(xù)性和環(huán)境影響進(jìn)行認(rèn)證,提高透明度。(歐亞資源集團(tuán)是全球電池聯(lián)盟的創(chuàng)始會(huì)員,該聯(lián)盟由大企業(yè)、國(guó)際組織和非政府組織組成,旨在攜手提高電池供應(yīng)鏈的可持續(xù)性。)
下一個(gè)世紀(jì),電池將變得無(wú)處不在。我們預(yù)計(jì)物聯(lián)網(wǎng)將日益普及,即使偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)也將接入物聯(lián)網(wǎng),讓所有物品都可以通過互聯(lián)網(wǎng)與設(shè)備之間成功交換數(shù)據(jù)。電池將是驅(qū)動(dòng)傳感器的關(guān)鍵,使傳感器即便在遠(yuǎn)離電網(wǎng)的地方也能夠傳輸數(shù)據(jù)。
機(jī)器人也會(huì)創(chuàng)造許多應(yīng)用電池的機(jī)會(huì)。隨著自動(dòng)化技術(shù)的日益普及,機(jī)器人開始取代人類,用高效、安全的方式從事一些通常具有危險(xiǎn)性的特殊任務(wù)。
電池技術(shù)將繼續(xù)改變我們的生活方式,它將在供應(yīng)清潔可持續(xù)電力方面發(fā)揮核心作用,并逐漸改變我們的儲(chǔ)能解決方案。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者邁克爾?因素蘭為First Cobalt公司的商務(wù)副總裁。
貝內(nèi)迪克特?索博特卡是歐亞資源集團(tuán)的首席執(zhí)行官及全球電池聯(lián)盟的聯(lián)席主席。
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
展望未來(lái),面對(duì)后疫情時(shí)代的不確定性和氣候變化的威脅,全世界逐漸認(rèn)識(shí)到人類面臨的諸多挑戰(zhàn)。然而,很少有人意識(shí)到電池在創(chuàng)建綠色未來(lái)方面的巨大潛力。
鋰離子電池體積小巧,通常被隱藏在電子設(shè)備內(nèi)部,但它們是我們?nèi)粘I钪胁豢苫蛉钡囊徊糠帧N覀兠刻焓褂玫脑S多技術(shù),包括智能手機(jī)、平板電腦和計(jì)算機(jī)等,都離不開鋰離子電池。類似的電池被廣泛應(yīng)用于無(wú)人機(jī)、醫(yī)療器械、園藝設(shè)備等各種用途。[歐亞資源集團(tuán)(Eurasian Resources Group)和First Cobalt公司(First Cobalt Corp.)供應(yīng)生產(chǎn)鋰離子電池的原材料鈷。]
毫無(wú)疑問,鋰離子電池最重要的最終用途是電動(dòng)汽車。2020年,雖然在新冠疫情期間,汽車的總銷量下滑了五分之一,但全球電動(dòng)汽車的銷量年同比卻增長(zhǎng)了43%,總計(jì)超過300萬(wàn)輛。電動(dòng)汽車將改變?nèi)虻奶枷倪M(jìn)程,因此,鋰離子電池將成為實(shí)現(xiàn)可持續(xù)未來(lái)的關(guān)鍵一環(huán)。
未來(lái)幾十年,我們會(huì)看到對(duì)鋰、鈷、鎳、石墨等電池核心原材料的需求激增,造成這種現(xiàn)象的其中一個(gè)關(guān)鍵因素是新能源汽車市場(chǎng)的增長(zhǎng)。
此外,環(huán)境可持續(xù)性和新能源汽車也是各國(guó)在后疫情時(shí)代實(shí)施經(jīng)濟(jì)刺激計(jì)劃的核心,歐洲和亞洲國(guó)家紛紛發(fā)布了致力于實(shí)現(xiàn)綠色復(fù)蘇的一攬子計(jì)劃。以負(fù)責(zé)任的方式開采的重要金屬將是此次全球經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇的基礎(chǔ)。然而,我們必須注意到在增加電池原材料供應(yīng)方面的諸多挑戰(zhàn)。
首先,由于新項(xiàng)目有較長(zhǎng)的前置時(shí)間并且需要投入大量資本,因此電池原材料的價(jià)格未來(lái)將持續(xù)上漲。技術(shù)進(jìn)步和規(guī)模經(jīng)濟(jì)從長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)來(lái)看能夠幫助降低采礦成本,但由于最容易開展的原材料項(xiàng)目早已投產(chǎn),而在近期內(nèi)新礦藏的開發(fā)成本更高。
加強(qiáng)供應(yīng)鏈安全也是電池行業(yè)未來(lái)發(fā)展的關(guān)鍵。剛果民主共和國(guó)約占全球鈷產(chǎn)量的70%,作為電池原材料的鈷絕大部分產(chǎn)自這個(gè)國(guó)家。因此,剛果民主共和國(guó)依舊將是這些金屬的主要供應(yīng)國(guó)。
然而,在電池原材料加工行業(yè),中國(guó)的主導(dǎo)地位未來(lái)可能受到挑戰(zhàn)。中國(guó)目前在該行業(yè)的市場(chǎng)份額預(yù)計(jì)達(dá)到80%。
但歐洲和北美已經(jīng)開始采取措施吸引電池生產(chǎn)商,下一步將是支持發(fā)展電池原材料加工產(chǎn)能。因此,西方國(guó)家政府應(yīng)該會(huì)扶持國(guó)內(nèi)的電池原材料項(xiàng)目,與中國(guó)同行公平競(jìng)爭(zhēng)。
提高價(jià)值鏈的透明度和支持循環(huán)利用,是保證價(jià)值鏈在環(huán)境、社會(huì)和經(jīng)濟(jì)等方面具有可行性的關(guān)鍵。
長(zhǎng)遠(yuǎn)目標(biāo)應(yīng)該是通過區(qū)塊鏈等解決方案,驗(yàn)證企業(yè)在環(huán)境、社會(huì)和治理(ESG)方面的合規(guī)情況以及原材料的來(lái)源,從而加快負(fù)責(zé)任采購(gòu),推廣可持續(xù)發(fā)展。實(shí)現(xiàn)這些目標(biāo)是全球電池聯(lián)盟(Global Battery Alliance)推行其核心計(jì)劃“電池護(hù)照”(Battery Passport)的關(guān)鍵。該計(jì)劃旨在對(duì)電池的可持續(xù)性和環(huán)境影響進(jìn)行認(rèn)證,提高透明度。(歐亞資源集團(tuán)是全球電池聯(lián)盟的創(chuàng)始會(huì)員,該聯(lián)盟由大企業(yè)、國(guó)際組織和非政府組織組成,旨在攜手提高電池供應(yīng)鏈的可持續(xù)性。)
下一個(gè)世紀(jì),電池將變得無(wú)處不在。我們預(yù)計(jì)物聯(lián)網(wǎng)將日益普及,即使偏遠(yuǎn)地區(qū)也將接入物聯(lián)網(wǎng),讓所有物品都可以通過互聯(lián)網(wǎng)與設(shè)備之間成功交換數(shù)據(jù)。電池將是驅(qū)動(dòng)傳感器的關(guān)鍵,使傳感器即便在遠(yuǎn)離電網(wǎng)的地方也能夠傳輸數(shù)據(jù)。
機(jī)器人也會(huì)創(chuàng)造許多應(yīng)用電池的機(jī)會(huì)。隨著自動(dòng)化技術(shù)的日益普及,機(jī)器人開始取代人類,用高效、安全的方式從事一些通常具有危險(xiǎn)性的特殊任務(wù)。
電池技術(shù)將繼續(xù)改變我們的生活方式,它將在供應(yīng)清潔可持續(xù)電力方面發(fā)揮核心作用,并逐漸改變我們的儲(chǔ)能解決方案。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
本文作者邁克爾?因素蘭為First Cobalt公司的商務(wù)副總裁。
貝內(nèi)迪克特?索博特卡是歐亞資源集團(tuán)的首席執(zhí)行官及全球電池聯(lián)盟的聯(lián)席主席。
翻譯:劉進(jìn)龍
審校:汪皓
The world is increasingly aware of the myriad of challenges we collectively face as we look to a future characterized both by post-pandemic uncertainty and the threat of climate change. However, few realize the incredible potential that batteries have in enabling a greener future.
Lithium-ion batteries may be small and, for the most part, hidden within electrical devices, but they form a vital part of everyday life. Many of the technologies that we depend upon on a daily basis, including smartphones, tablets, and computers, would simply not function without them. Similar batteries are also being used in applications ranging from drones to medical devices to gardening equipment. (Eurasian Resources Group and First Cobalt Corp. supply cobalt to companies that use it in the production of lithium-ion batteries.)
The most important end-use of li-ion batteries is undoubtedly electric vehicles (EV). Global sales of electric cars rose by 43% year-over-year to more than 3 million in 2020, despite overall car sales slumping by a fifth during the pandemic. EVs are set to change the course of global carbon consumption, and as such, lithium-ion batteries will be a key enabler of the journey toward future sustainability.
In the coming decades, we will see demand for core battery materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, and graphite substantially increase, with the growth of the new energy vehicle (NEV) market a key factor in this trend.
Furthermore, environmental sustainability and NEVs are central to countries’ post-pandemic economic stimulus plans, as governments across Europe and Asia have introduced packages focused on green recovery. Key metals, mined responsibly, will be the bedrock of this global economic recovery. However, we must be mindful of several challenges in ramping up the supply of battery materials.
First, due to long lead times of new projects and the large amount of capital required, battery materials will likely see an increase in price over time. Technological advancements and economies of scale can help to lower mining costs in the long term, but since the most accessible raw material projects have already been commissioned, new deposits will cost more to develop in the near future.
Stronger supply chain security will also be key to the future of the battery industry. The Democratic Republic of Congo provides close to 70% of annual mined cobalt output and the vast majority of cobalt mined for battery materials. As such, the DRC is set to remain the main supplier of these metals.
However, when it comes to the battery materials processing sector, China’s dominance, which is estimated to have reached 80% of the industry this year, may well be challenged in the future.
Europe and North America have already started taking steps to attract battery cell manufacturers, and the next move will be supporting battery materials processing capacity. With this in mind, Western governments should reward domestic battery materials projects to level the playing field with China.
Strengthening value chain transparency, while supporting circularity and recycling efforts, will be crucial in ensuring an environmentally, socially, and economically viable value chain.
The aim going forward should be the acceleration of responsible sourcing and sustainability practices through solutions such as blockchain, which can be used to verify ESG compliance and the provenance of the materials. Addressing these goals is central to the Battery Passport, one of the Global Battery Alliance’s core initiatives that will provide transparency on a given battery’s sustainability and environmental impact. (ERG is a founding member of the Global Battery Alliance, which consists of major businesses, international organizations, and NGOs working together to facilitate a more sustainable battery supply chain.)
Over the next century, batteries will become ubiquitous. We can expect the Internet of things to become even more widely rolled out, including in remote locations, ensuring that all physical objects can successfully exchange data with other devices over the Internet. Batteries will be key in powering the sensors that communicate data, even beyond the reach of the electricity grid.
Robotics also presents many opportunities for the use of batteries, as automation becomes increasingly common and robots begin to replace humans for performing highly specific and often dangerous tasks in an efficient and safe manner.
Battery technology will continue to revolutionize the way we live as it takes a central role in enabling clean and renewable power, and increasingly shapes our energy storage strategies.
Michael Insulan is vice president of commercial at First Cobalt Corp.
Benedikt Sobotka is CEO of Eurasian Resources Group and co-chair of the Global Battery Alliance.