How to Preserve Critical Materials for Energy Transition

Virtual twins and enhanced product circularity are two of the pillars of a successful transition to clean energy use, according to Dassault Systèmes CSO Philippine De T’Serclaes.
The sustainability leader – cover star of Sustainability Magazine’s December 2024 edition – argues that critical materials including copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements (REEs) are essential to the transition.
And she adds that circularity should be the backbone of moves to preserve and maximise the materials – supported by virtual twins.
What is critical about critical materials?
In a blog on the Dassault website, Philippine emphasises the importance of critical materials.
From low-carbon energy technology to electric vehicles, she says critical materials are essential to enabling the energy transition.
“According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), achieving global Net Zero emissions by 2050 will require six times more mineral inputs in 2040 compared to 2020. This surge in demand presents a challenge.”
Philippine goes on to say: “From wind turbines to solar panels and electric vehicles, clean energy technologies are escalating demand for large quantities of critical materials.”
She adds that expected mine supply is not enough to keep up with demand, meaning “there’s a high risk of supply disruption” due to:
- Finite raw material availability
- The geographic concentration of sources
- Lack of affordable substitutes.
Philippine adds: “This scarcity accentuates the urgency for the critical materials value network to prioritise circular best practices that align with global sustainability efforts.”
Circularity is key
As with all areas of sustainability, there can be no embedded progress without circularity.
Philippine says it is “not merely an option but a necessity”, adding: “It extends the lifecycle of materials, transforms waste into resources and minimises dependency on finite raw resources.”
She suggests that the stages in the critical materials lifecycle cannot be viewed separately, without understanding how they fit together as interconnected parts of a broader ecosystem.
“A holistic, circular approach is required as we shift towards a low-waste, low-carbon generative economy in the face of growing global demand for critical materials.”
Recycling is not enough
While recycling relieves the pressure on primary supply, Philippine points out that studies suggest that, by 2040, recycled quantities of copper, lithium, nickel and cobalt from spent batteries could reduce primary supply requirements for these minerals by 10%.
She adds: “However, recycling practices are not fully established for many materials and recycling alone doesn’t completely eliminate the need for investment in new supply.
“This is why we must also consider emerging waste streams from clean energy technologies.”
Enter virtual twins
Philippine says virtual twins have the potential to be both a catalyst and enabler of the generative economy.
She adds: “Dassault Systèmes provides virtual twin experiences that enable the net-zero transition. Critical materials are at the heart of clean energy technologies that support this transition across infrastructure, technology, healthcare and mobility sectors.”
Using virtual twins for product design, manufacturing or the enterprise can “increase circularity by providing the transparency and data management required to create a collaborative ecosystem where critical materials can be traced from their extraction and sourcing through end of life,” says Philippine.
In conclusion
Philippine says the challenge of limited critical materials supplies should also be seen as a “significant opportunity”.
“By embedding sustainable practices and circularity throughout the lifecycle of critical materials, we can rise to meet this demand responsibly.”
She mentions two examples:
- Innovating alternative materials, as replacement or complements, will help industries meet demand while reducing dependency and minimising environmental impact
- Planning end-of-life recovery through design for disassembly will facilitate reuse, standardise recycling and eventually reduce pressure on primary supply.
“Achieving this requires a holistic approach – across the entire value chain and a truly collaborative ecosystem – where critical materials are transparently traced from extraction and sourcing to end-of-life, and back into the value chain, extending their life.
“I believe a new approach to critical materials, powered by virtual twin technology, will facilitate a much needed shift toward a regenerative value network, supporting a sustainable digital economy and the clean energy technologies shaping our future.”
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