Chinese Analysis Predicts Supply Shortages of Rare Earths: At Least Under ‘High-Demand Scenarios’

Highlights

• Chinese researchers predict production peaks for critical rare earth elements essential for clean energy technologies.
• Dysprosium, terbium, praseodymium, and neodymium supplies may struggle to meet growing global demand.
• Study emphasizes need for proactive policy measures to mitigate potential future REE supply shortages.

---

The study, “Towards clean energy technologies: Assessing the supply potential of critical rare earth elements in China”, was authored by Han Ding and Jianping Ge, affiliated with Chinese institutions, including Beijing’s National Natural Science Foundation and the Beijing Social Science Foundation. Their work addresses a critical global challenge: ensuring the supply of rare earth elements (REEs) essential for clean energy technogies like wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Key Findings

Key findings from the study highlight that China’s supply of critical REEs—dysprosium, terbium, praseodymium, and neodymium—will struggle to meet growing demand. Using the multicyclic Generalized Weng model enhanced by parameter optimization algorithms and F-tests, the authors predict peaks in production for dysprosium (2030), terbium (2041), and praseodymium and neodymium (beyond 2060).

Despite these peaks, the study warns of potential supply shortages for these elements under high-demand scenarios, which could hamper clean energy advancements.

Limitations

The research provides valuable insights but has some limitations. It heavily relies on historical data and assumes the accuracy of predictive models, which may not fully capture unforeseen factors like technological advancements or new REE discoveries. Furthermore, the study’s focus on China’s supply does not comprehensively account for global dynamics, such as international trade and geopolitical tensions. Rare Earth Exchanges has suggested demand could wane in some parts of the world in the short run.

Take incoming POTUS Donald Trump and “drill baby drill” scenarios, for example.

Underlying assumptions include the continuation of current production and demand trends without significant disruptions. Potential biases stem from the study’s reliance on data from Chinese sources and the assumption that China will remain the dominant player in REE production.

This study is a crucial contribution to understanding the challenges of sustainable REE supply for clean energy technologies and emphasizes the need for proactive policy measures and resource management to mitigate future shortages.