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ICMAB researchers participate in the elaboration of the "Informe C" report on critical materials in the energy transition

The "Informes C" reports are one of the main outcomes of the "Oficina C" promoted by the FECYT in collaboration with the Spanish Congress of Deputies. These documents provide scientific evidence to issues of interest to society.

Presentation of "Informes C" reports

M. Rosa Palacín, expert in batteries, and Sergi Riera-Galindo, expert in organic photovoltaics, researchers at ICMAB-CSIC, have participated in the "Informe C" report on ‘Critical Materials and Minerals in the Energy Transition’, together with many other experts in the field of materials for sustainable energy production, raw materials, or materials for energy harvesting and storing.

The public presentation of this and three other reports of the Office of Science and Technology of the Congress of Deputies, also known as "Oficina C", was this Monday, 11 November 2024. Apart from the report on critical materials in the enregy transition, the other three presented were on AI and education, on suicide prevention and on sustainable management of coastal areas. These documents, promoted by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) in collaboration with the Congress, aim to provide scientific evidence to certain topics of interest and bring science closer to society.

The "Oficina C" has an advisory board of 12 institutional representatives from organizations such as the CSIC, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) and the Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), among others.

The public presentation of the "Informes C" consisting on four roundtables, one for each topic, can be watched in YouTube here:

Critical materials in the energy transition

Mineral raw materials are the basis for the technological products needed to make an energy transition to a decarbonized economy by 2050. The secure supply of these critical minerals to the European Union is key to strengthening its economic security and strategic autonomy, but presents challenges at the economic, governance, social and environmental levels.

Presentation of the "Informe C" report on critical materials in the energy transition

As the report states: "The energy transition to a decarbonized economy by 2050 poses new challenges for the supply of mineral raw materials, which are necessary for the development of renewable energy technologies and infrastructures. The rapid growth in demand for these resources, their geographic distribution, the lack of suitable and affordable substitutes, and their importance to the global economy make them elements of dependence between nations, geopolitical tension and tools of trade warfare".

"Dependence on these mineral raw materials poses significant geopolitical, social and environmental challenges, which must be taken into account in a scenario in which the European Union (EU) is seeking to strengthen its economic security and strategic autonomy. All of this with the aim of ensuring resilient, secure and sustainable mineral raw material supply chains. This report addresses the complexity of mineral raw materials value chains, their socio-environmental impacts and the economic and governance challenges they pose for Spain and the EU".

"The report is very complete and it provides an excellent view of the topic for everyone intersted. The coordinators and promoters of the reports have done a great job in digesting and putting together all the information provided" commented M. Rosa Palacin.

More information:

Anna May

13 November 2024