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H. Hao and X. Sun
Figure 6.5c shows the demand for critical metal resources in the NCA dominance
scenario (S3), which is notably characterized by a much higher demand for nickel
than in other scenarios, registering at 7.04 mt in gross demand and 1.84 mt in net
demand by 2100, 63% higher than the benchmark. Meanwhile, the demand for cobalt
is also greater than benchmark, reaching 1.37 mt in gross demand and 0.36 mt in net
demand by 2100, 37% greater than the benchmark. The main reason is that nickel and
cobalt are essential for the cathode of NCA battery, especially nickel which makes
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3
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5
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7
2000
2020
2040
2060
2080
2100
Material demand / mt
Lithium - gross
Nickel - gross
Cobalt - gross
Manganese - gross
Lithium - net
Nickel - net
Cobalt - net
Manganese - net
a
b
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2
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7
2000
2020
2040
2060
2080
2100
Material demand / mt
Lithium - gross
Nickel - gross
Cobalt - gross
Manganese - gross
Lithium - net
Nickel - net
Cobalt - net
Manganese - net
Fig. 6.5 Demand for critical metal resources in a S1 scenario, b S2 scenario, c S3 scenario