Is green tech creating environmental problems?
Lithium, the third element on the periodic table, is a soft, light metal with a wide range of applications due to its unique properties. It is the most important component in the global green transformation. A few uses are lithium-ion batteries, powering electronics such as smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles, and even large-scale energy storage systems. They offer advantages like high energy density, faster charging, and longer lifespan compared to other battery types. Lithium is essential for enabling the proliferation of portable electronic devices and electric transportation.
Lithium is used in the production of heat-resistant glass and ceramics, improving their thermal shock resistance. Lithium-based greases are essential in industries operating under high temperatures and pressure. Lithium is incorporated into lightweight metal alloys, notably in the aerospace industry, to enhance strength while minimizing weight. Lithium also finds applications in areas like HVAC systems, aluminum production, polymer production, and continuous casting mold flux powders.
The demand for lithium has significantly increased, particularly due to the growing need for rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Lithium production is dominated by a handful of countries, with Australia, Chile, China, and Argentina leading the way. Lithium is extracted from both hard rock spodumene and brine deposits, with Australia primarily using hard rock mining and South America relying on brine extraction. Emerging technologies like direct lithium extraction (DLE) are also playing an increasing role. Direct lithium extraction technologies are gaining traction as a more sustainable and efficient way to extract lithium from brines. Ongoing research and development are focused on improving extraction methods, increasing efficiency, and reducing the environmental impact of lithium production.
Australia, the largest producer, with 52% of global production, primarily from spodumene mines. Chile is the second largest producer, extracting lithium from brine deposits in salt flats. China is also a significant producer, also involved in processing and refining as is Argentina, extracting lithium from brine.
Having a closer look at some of the environmental impacts, let’s focus on Chile. Beneath the salt flats of the Atacama Desert in Chile, lie the world’s largest reserves of lithium, the soft, silvery-white metal that is an essential component of the batteries that power electric cars, laptops and solar energy storage. As the world transitions to more renewable energy sources, the demand for it has soared. In 2021, about 95,000 tonnes of lithium was consumed globally, by 2024 it had more than doubled to 205,000 tonnes, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). By 2040 it’s predicted to rise to more than 900,000 tonnes.
Most of the increase will be driven by demand for electric car batteries, the IEA says. So, this soaring demand has raised the question: is the world’s race to decarbonize unintentionally stoking another environmental problem?
In 2023, the government in Chile launched a National Lithium Strategy to ramp up production through partly nationalizing the industry and encouraging private investment. A planned joint enterprise between SQM and Chile’s state mining company Codelco has just secured regulatory approval for a quota to extract at least 2.5 million metric tonnes of lithium metal equivalent per year and boost production until 2060.
Chile’s government has framed the plans as part of the global fight against climate change and a source of state income. Mining companies predominantly extract lithium by pumping brine from beneath Chile’s salt flats to evaporation pools on the surface. The process extracts vast amounts of water in this already drought-prone region.
Lithium mining impacts microorganisms that birds feed on in these waters, so the whole food chain is affected. Damage to flora has also been found in some areas. On property in the salt flats, mined by SQM, almost one-third of the native algarroba trees had started dying as early as 2013 due to the impacts of mining.
Extracting lithium involves pumping brine from beneath Chile’s salt flats to evaporation pools on the surface. At one of their plants in Antofagasta, Valentín Barrera, Deputy Manager of Sustainability at SQM Lithium, says the firm is working closely with communities to “understand their concerns” and carrying out environmental impact assessments.
Some believe mining companies have extracted too much water from an ecosystem already struggling from climate change and has been forced to change our entire drinking water system, electrical system, water treatment system because of water shortages. Since it started in the 1980s, companies have extracted millions of cubic meters of water and brine. Increasing production capacity will be based on incorporating new technologies to minimize the environmental and social impact and that the high value of lithium due to its role in the global energy transition could provide opportunities for the country’s economic development.
The Salar de Atacama is a case study for a global dilemma. Climate change is causing droughts and weather changes. There is a common argument from people who support lithium mining: that even if it damages the environment, it brings huge benefits via jobs and cash. It seems that the humans are potentially destroying the environment in order to create the new green world order. Oil, gas and nuclear power might not be that bad after all.