Visualizing Copper Demand for Renewables
July 22, 2024

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Visualizing Copper Demand in a Renewables Powered Future


Renewable energy is considered one of the most effective tools to reduce global carbon emissions and fight climate change. However, building technologies like solar and wind power plants or electric vehicles (EVs) can be mineral-intensive.


Copper is considered an essential metal for renewables. The metal is highly conductive, can easily be shaped into pipes, wires, or sheets, and can remove heat far more rapidly than other metals. In fact, copper itself is a sustainable material. The metal is 100% recyclable and can be used repeatedly without any loss of performance.


The above infographic from Teck highlights how global copper demand in both the clean power and the clean transport sectors is expected to double in the next decades.


The Wind and Solar Boom


Copper has long been a common component in most electrical wiring, power generation, transmission, distribution, and circuitry because of its high conductivity and durability.


New energy technologies, however, require even more copper. Photovoltaics (PV) solar power systems contain approximately 5 tonnes (t) per megawatt (MW) of copper, while grid energy storage installations rely on 2.7 to 3.6t per MW.

Year Power Grids (t) EV Batteries (t) Wind (t) Solar (t) EV Charging (t)
2020 1.7M 210K 165K 83K 4.2K
2021 1.7M 303K 143K 85K 6.1K
2022 1.8M 454K 207K 79K 8.7K
2023 1.8M 580K 189K 82K 11.3K
2024 1.9M 702K 256K 83K 13.9K
2025 1.9M 798K 300K 87K 16.6K
2026 1.9M 907K 254K 80K 21.1K
2027 1.9M 1.0M 287K 87K 26.4K
2028 1.9M 1.3M 290K 95K 32.1K
2029 2.0M 1.5M 329K 100K 39.2K
2030 2.0M 1.8M 352K 104K 47.1K

Solar isn’t the only renewable energy source that relies on copper, as a wind farm can contain between 4 million and 15 million pounds of copper.


Copper Drives EVs


The clean transport sector also consumes lots of copper. In fact, the metal is used in every major EV component, from the motor to the inverter and the electrical wiring.


While an average gasoline-powered car uses about 20 kg of copper, mainly as wiring, a fully electric car has roughly 80 kg of copper. Therefore, copper demand for EV batteries alone is expected to jump from 210K tonnes in 2020 to 1.8M tonnes in 2030.


But demand for the metal won’t just come from the cars themselves. Copper used for EV charging stations is also expected to rise more than 1,000% by 2030, compared to 2020.


Meeting the Copper Demand


As the world moves towards alternative energy sources, copper will remain in high demand.


Even though the metal is 100% recyclable, recycling alone will not be enough to meet demand and ensure a stable supply of copper. Continued mining for new copper will be needed.


Copyright © 2024 Visual Capitalist

March 18, 2025
TORONTO, March 18, 2025 - VVC Exploration Corporation, dba VVC Resources, (“VVC”), (TSX-V:VVC and OTCQC:VVCVF) announces the following: Appointment of Officers The Directors appointed Mr. Bill Kerrigan as President and Chief Operating Officer of VVC. Mr. Kerrigan will continue to be President of Plateau Helium Corporation. Mr. James A. Culver will remain as CEO of VVC. VVC Chairman, Terrence Martell, commented, "As a representative of Management and the Board, I extend heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Culver for his years of service as President. I also welcome Mr. Kerrigan to his new role as President and I am confident that he will provide positive momentum for VVC." Option Grant The Directors also granted incentive stock options under its stock option plan, to officers, directors and consultants of the Company, to purchase up to an aggregate of 15,700,000 common shares, representing 2.74% of the outstanding shares of the Company. The stock options are exercisable at a price of CA$0.05 per share expiring March 17, 2035. 25% of the options granted will vest immediately with the remaining vesting at 25% every six months. The exercise price was fixed at the minimum allowable price by the TSX Venture Exchange policies. The options, granted in accordance with the provisions of the Company's stock option plan, are subject to the TSX Venture Exchange policies and the applicable securities laws. Of the Options granted, 41.1% were to Directors, 30.3% to Officers and 28.7% to Employees/Consultants of the Company. About VVC Resources VVC engages in the exploration, development, and management of natural resources - specializing in scarce and increasingly valuable materials needed to meet the growing, high-tech demands of industries such as manufacturing, technology, medicine, space travel, and the expanding green economy. Our portfolio includes a diverse set of multi-asset, high-growth projects, comprising: Helium & industrial gas production in western U.S.; Copper & associated metals operations in northern Mexico; and Strategic investments in carbon sequestration and other green energy technologies. VVC is a Canada-based, publicly-traded company on the TSXV (TSX-V:VVC). To learn more, visit our website at: www.vvcresources.com. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
December 5, 2024
The Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (“AGM”) took place virtually yesterday with 34 attendees (shareholders and guests). Total attendance in person and by proxy was 137 shareholders representing about 51.4% of the outstanding shares. At the AGM, shareholders approved the election of all Directors proposed by Management with over 90% of the tendered votes being in favor, and the re-appointment of MNP LLP as auditors of the Company with all of the tendered votes being in favor.
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