Visualizing the Demand for Battery Raw Materials
Feb 07, 2024

By  Article/Editing: Bruno Venditti

Visualizing the Demand for Battery Raw Materials


Metals play a pivotal role in the energy transition, as EVs and energy storage systems rely on batteries, which, in turn, require metals.


This graphic, sponsored by Wood Mackenzie, forecasts raw material demand from batteries. It presents a base case scenario that incorporates the evolution of current policies, indicating a global temperature rise of 2.5°C by 2100. Additionally, it explores an accelerated (AET) scenario, where the world aims to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5°C by the end of this century.


Growing Demand for Metals in an Accelerated Scenario


Lithium is a crucial material in high-energy-density rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.


The lithium fueling electric vehicle batteries undergoes refinement from compounds sourced in salt-brine pools or hard rock and quantities are measured in terms of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).


According to Wood Mackenzie, by 2030, the demand for LCE is expected to be 55% higher in an AET scenario compared to the base case, and 59% higher by 2050.


Base Case Unit 2023 2030 2050
Battery demand (Li-ion and Na-ion) GWh 1,152 3,577 8,395
Cathode active material (Li-ion and Na-ion) kt 2,132 6,376 13,995
Lithium kt LCE 878 2,390 5,275
Nickel kt 596 1,299 2,151
Cobalt kt 147 187 228
Manganese kt 207 687 1,491
Graphite kt 1,119 3,034 3,748
AET Unit 2023 2030 2050
Battery demand (Li-ion and Na-ion) GWh 1,250 5,856 12,819
Cathode active material (Li-ion and Na-ion) kt 2,326 10,865 21,149
Lithium kt LCE 954 3,701 8,384
Nickel kt 606 1,648 2,629
Cobalt kt 145 207 265
Manganese kt 225 1,124 2,163
Graphite kt 1,220 5,018 5,461

The demand for two other essential metals in battery production, cobalt and nickel, is expected to be 16% and 22% higher, respectively, in 2050 in the AET scenario compared to the base case.


Given that graphite is the primary anode material for an EV battery, it also represents the largest component by weight in the average EV. The demand for graphite in an AET scenario is anticipated to be 46% higher than in a base case scenario.


Battery Materials Supply Chain


According to Wood Mackenzie data, an accelerated energy transition would require much more capital within a short timeframe for developing the battery raw materials supply chain – from mines through to refineries and cell production facilities.


Increased participation from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will be necessary, risking EV sales penetration rates remaining below 15% in the medium term, in contrast to approximately 40% in the total market under an AET scenario.

In addition, finding alternative sources of metals, including using secondary supply through recycling, is another option available to the industry.


However, as noted in Wood Mackenzie’s research, current EV sales are too low to generate a sufficiently large scrap pool to create any meaningful new source of supply by 2030.


Access insights on the entire battery industry supply chain with Electric Vehicle & Battery Supply Chain Service by Wood Mackenzie.


Copyright © 2023 Visual Capitalist

Superfluid helium: the quantum curiosity that enables huge physics experiments

09 May, 2024
If you take helium gas and you cool it at atmospheric pressure to 4.2 K in becomes a liquid. Keep cooling to 2.2 K and the helium enters its superfluid phase, called helium II. Superfluid helium has several very useful properties and is used in science and technology in multi-tonne quantities today. In particular, helium II is an exceptionally good conductor of heat and this combined with its low temperature means that the superfluid is ideal for cooling components made from superconducting materials.

How Clean is the Nickel and Lithium in a Battery?

07 May, 2024
The production of lithium (Li) and nickel (Ni), two key raw materials for batteries, can produce vastly different emissions profiles. This graphic from Wood Mackenzie shows how nickel and lithium mining can significantly impact the environment, depending on the processes used for extraction.
Show More >
Share by: