according to world bank projections, lithium consumption will increase by 500% by 2050.
by rick richardson
technology this week
the enormous, rapidly receding salton sea in the southeast of california holds the key to the global future of clean energy. a new assessment from the u.s. department of energy claims this region contains an abundance of lithium, sufficient to power more than 375 million electric vehicle (ev) batteries. this news places the area as a potential powerhouse in the global lithium industry, surpassing the entire number of automobiles now on u.s. roadways.
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lithium is essential for the creation of rechargeable batteries, which are used in everything from smartphones to electric cars. given the global push for clean energy and the u.s. goal of increased energy independence, this discovery is a hopeful development. however, as researchers at the university of southern california (usc) warn, there could be severe adverse effects on the environment and public health if america rushes to harvest lithium.
manuel pastor, the director of the usc equity research institute, stated that “lithium valley” is currently positioned for a potential economic boom that is being supported not only by businesses but also by environmentalists who think the proposed method of lithium extraction is the “greenest” approach available. however, the real question is who will profit from the boom and who will continue to be marginalized.
lithium from the salton sea is found in geothermal brine – hot, mineral-rich water below the surface. this form of lithium extraction is thought to be less harmful to the environment compared to conventional hard rock mining. lithium may be collected from the brine by pumping it to the surface and then pumping the sans-lithium liquid back to the ground. this method is being heralded as a possible game-changer for environmentally friendly lithium production.
australia presently produces more lithium than any other country globally, mainly from hard rock mining. significant producers of lithium are also found in nations such as china, chile and argentina, which harvest the metal from salt lakes. but now, the world economic forum reports, california’s salton sea is emerging as a major factor.
the epidemic and geopolitical tensions have highlighted the concerns about depending on foreign suppliers for necessary elements including lithium, nickel and cobalt – which power the batteries in evs and electronic devices. according to world bank projections, lithium consumption will increase by 500 percent by 2050.
according to greys soši?, an expert in sustainability and global supply chains at the usc marshall school of business, “the u.s. needs to reduce the amount of lithium used in batteries and seek alternative local sources of lithium to enable sustainable future production from local resources.”
the salton sea’s proposed geothermal brine lithium recovery is one such option that might help fill the rising demand while lowering dependency on foreign lithium sources.
there is something peculiar about the salton sea, however. an engineering blunder in 1905 unintentionally formed it, and ever since, its dry lakebed has been exposing poisonous particles. significant health concerns are associated with this dust, particularly for children in nearby towns who face challenging economic and environmental conditions.
this is one of california’s poorest counties, with a typical household income about one-third that of silicon valley. while it boasts an 85 percent latino population, its political representation is far from up to par, according to pastor.
the prevalence of childhood asthma in these neighborhoods is startlingly high. air quality near the salton sea has been the subject of research by shohreh farzan, an associate professor of population and public health at the usc keck school of medicine, since 2017. according to her analysis, the childhood asthma rate in the towns surrounding the sea is 22 percent, higher than the national average of approximately 8 percent.
“the local air quality is probably a factor in the high rates we see, as many children in this area suffer from respiratory symptoms like wheezing and allergies,” farzan said. “while lithium can help us become less dependent on fossil fuels, there is still much to learn about the environmental effects of the extraction process and whether this shift to cleaner energy could have an adverse effect on the health of the local communities.”
the imperial valley’s push for lithium mining reflects a larger global issue: balancing the pressing demand for clean energy and the necessity of safeguarding ecosystems and vulnerable communities. jill johnston, an associate professor at usc’s division of environmental health, highlighted this.
“while promoting zero-emission technology and moving away from fossil fuels is vital for public health, it’s also necessary to prevent creating new environmental risks,” she stated. “the unduly burdened families around the proposed lithium extraction site deserve access to clean water and air and health protection.”
imperial valley faces a critical decision as the globe rushes toward a future powered primarily by renewable energy. lithium mining has the potential to have a significant positive economic impact, bringing prosperity and jobs to an area that desperately needs them. however, the health and environmental issues cannot be overlooked.
the trick will be figuring out how to use lithium in the salton sea while still caring for the local ecology and population. if done well, lithium valley has the potential to serve as an example of sustainable resource exploitation. otherwise, it might be just another illustration of how economic growth can neglect marginalized populations.