{"id":698847,"date":"2025-11-12T16:15:18","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T13:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/"},"modified":"2025-11-12T16:15:18","modified_gmt":"2025-11-12T13:15:18","slug":"rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/","title":{"rendered":"Rewiring a sustainable, clean energy future with copper"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2f5f5bb4e8c\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2f5f5bb4e8c\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/#Strategic_metal_versus_critical_mineral\" >Strategic metal versus critical mineral<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/#Copper_The_conductor_of_the_energy_transition\" >Copper: The conductor of the energy transition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/#An_eternal_metal_Recycling_for_sustainability\" >An eternal metal: Recycling for sustainability<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/#Malachite_A_mineral_beauty_and_copper_source\" >Malachite: A mineral beauty and copper source<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/#A_guide_for_copper_exploration\" >A guide for copper exploration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/rewiring-a-sustainable-clean-energy-future-with-copper\/#Copper_and_malachite_in_a_decarbonized_world\" >Copper and malachite in a decarbonized world<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"article-gallery lightGallery\">\n<div data-thumb=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/tmb\/2025\/rewiring-a-sustainable.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/rewiring-a-sustainable.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Malchite is prized as much for it copper as for its vivid green colour. Credit: Dr Vinicius 'Vinnie' Louro\">\n<figure class=\"article-img\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/scx1.b-cdn.net\/csz\/news\/800a\/2025\/rewiring-a-sustainable.jpg\" alt=\"Rewiring a sustainable, clean energy future with copper\" title=\"Malchite is prized as much for it copper as for its vivid green colour. Credit: Dr Vinicius 'Vinnie' Louro\" width=\"800\" height=\"530\"\/><figcaption class=\"text-darken text-low-up text-truncate-js text-truncate mt-3\">\n                Malchite is prized as much for it copper as for its vivid green colour. Credit: Dr Vinicius &#8216;Vinnie&#8217; Louro<br \/>\n            <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>We&#8217;ve heard a lot of talk about <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.csiro.au\/en\/news\/All\/Articles\/2025\/October\/critical-minerals-explained\" target=\"_blank\">critical minerals<\/a> recently. These are the metals and elements crucially important to the advanced technologies we have all become accustomed to: our mobile phones, electric vehicles (EVs), our digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>But have you heard of strategic metals?<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Strategic_metal_versus_critical_mineral\"><\/span>Strategic metal versus critical mineral<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Strategic metals are those essential to a country&#8217;s economy, security and technological advancement, especially as nations increase their reliance on digital technologies and shift towards renewable energy sources and systems with lower carbon emissions.<\/p>\n<p>The classification of copper depends on your location. It is considered a strategic mineral in places like Australia and my home country, Brazil. In Chile\u2014the largest global copper producer\u2014Canada, the United States, India and South Korea, it is classified as a critical mineral.<\/p>\n<p>Regardless of its category, copper is one of the most important metals in the history of humanity, serving as a source of riches for empires from the ancient to the modern era.<\/p>\n<p>As the world accelerates towards a low-carbon future, copper stands out as a linchpin for sustainable development and the global energy transition.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Copper_The_conductor_of_the_energy_transition\"><\/span>Copper: The conductor of the energy transition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Copper is an exceptional electrical and thermal conductor, making it indispensable for many technologies. It is the most common information transmitter in our laptops and mobile phones.<\/p>\n<p>For renewable energy infrastructure, it is used extensively in power grids, EVs, wind turbines and solar panels. In fact, renewable energy technologies require up to five times more copper than conventional systems.<\/p>\n<p>The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.iea.org\/reports\/copper-2\" target=\"_blank\">copper demand for clean energy could nearly double by 2050<\/a>, driven by the electrification of transport and the expansion of renewable power generation.<\/p>\n<p>The mining industry forecasts that copper demand over the next decade will surpass the total amount mined in all of history.<\/p>\n<p>Copper&#8217;s strategic importance is further underscored by its role in enabling energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n<p>As the world rewires for a net-zero future, copper&#8217;s ability to efficiently transmit electricity is vital to minimizing energy losses and supporting the integration of renewables into the grid.<\/p>\n<p>                                                                                                        <!-- TechX - News - In-article --><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_eternal_metal_Recycling_for_sustainability\"><\/span>An eternal metal: Recycling for sustainability<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Copper is one of the most recyclable materials on the planet. It is 100% recyclable. Nearly 80% of all the copper ever mined is still in use today!<\/p>\n<p>Nearly one-third of global copper demand is met through recycling. This recyclability is central to copper&#8217;s contribution to sustainability and the circular economy, minimizing the need for new mining and lowering the environmental footprint of copper production.<\/p>\n<p>Mining companies are increasingly adopting responsible practices, from reducing water and energy use to engaging with local communities and investing in environmental management.<\/p>\n<p>The industry&#8217;s focus on recycling, resource efficiency and technological innovation is helping to ensure that copper remains a sustainable enabler of the energy transition.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Malachite_A_mineral_beauty_and_copper_source\"><\/span>Malachite: A mineral beauty and copper source<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Despite copper&#8217;s recyclability, demand for new copper sources is rising.<\/p>\n<p>I have a particular fascination with beautiful copper-bearing minerals, especially malachite. This vibrant green mineral has influenced history as both a pigment and copper source since Neolithic times. In fact, the smelting and use of copper ultimately marked the end of the Stone Age and beginning of the Bronze Age.<\/p>\n<p>Used for pigments, cosmetics, weapons, and spiritual amulets, malachite has held significance across societies, symbolizing fertility and immortality in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures.<\/p>\n<p>Today, it remains prominent in art, jewelry and as an exploration marker for copper deposits.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_guide_for_copper_exploration\"><\/span>A guide for copper exploration<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Malachite is a secondary mineral which means it forms after other copper minerals have already been created and then decomposed by substances present in the same environment.<\/p>\n<p>For example, when primary copper-rich minerals like chalcopyrite and bornite are exposed to fluids containing water, oxygen or CO<sub>2<\/sub>, the copper in them dissolves and is carried away.<\/p>\n<p>As the copper-rich fluid moves and reaches places with less oxygen, the copper joins with other chemicals like carbonates, sulfides, or oxides, creating layers rich in copper. The rest of the copper keeps getting carried until it meets and reacts with sulfides to form new copper deposits. These last two places are where people look for copper.<\/p>\n<p>Malachite can take on many shapes, such as round, grape-like lumps (called botryoidal), stringy fibers, icicle-like coatings, or even powdery crusts.<\/p>\n<p>It is often found in areas with volcanoes, whether they are still active or not.<\/p>\n<p>Because malachite is a rich source of copper and forms in interesting ways, it attracts the attention of scientists, collectors and copper explorers.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Copper_and_malachite_in_a_decarbonized_world\"><\/span>Copper and malachite in a decarbonized world<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The journey to a sustainable, decarbonized future is paved with metal. Copper with its superior conduction properties and recyclability is at the heart of this transformation.<\/p>\n<p>Malachite, once a primary ore and now a symbol of sustainable resource recovery, highlights the evolving role of minerals in the circular economy.<\/p>\n<p>As demand for clean energy technologies grows, securing responsible and resilient supplies of strategic metals like copper will be crucial.<\/p>\n<p>By embracing innovation, recycling, and sustainable mining, we can ensure that these vital resources continue to power the world&#8217;s energy transition, supporting technological progress and environmental stewardship that define our era.<\/p>\n<p>                                        <!-- print only --><\/p>\n<div class=\"d-none d-print-block\">\n<p>\n                                                <strong>Citation<\/strong>:<br \/>\n                                                Rewiring a sustainable, clean energy future with copper (2025, November 12)<br \/>\n                                                retrieved 12 November 2025<br \/>\n                                                from https:\/\/techxplore.com\/<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">news<\/a>\/2025-11-rewiring-sustainable-energy-future-copper.html\n                                            <\/p>\n<p>\n                                            This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no<br \/>\n                                            part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.\n                                            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script id=\"facebook-jssdk\" async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more Like this articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/sciencee\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Science category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techxplore.com\/news\/2025-11-rewiring-sustainable-energy-future-copper.html\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Malchite is prized as much for it copper as for its vivid green colour. Credit: Dr Vinicius &#8216;Vinnie&#8217; Louro We&#8217;ve heard a lot of talk about critical minerals recently. These are the metals and elements crucially important to the advanced technologies we have all become accustomed to: our mobile phones, electric vehicles (EVs), our digital&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":698848,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/scx2.b-cdn.net\/gfx\/news\/2025\/rewiring-a-sustainable.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-698847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sciencee"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=698847"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/698847\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/698848"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=698847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=698847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=698847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}