With the rapid electrification of Norway, many people have questioned where the raw materials for the batteries of the future will come from. We may now have the answer.
With geologists hunting high and low for battery materials, an enormous new discovery of phosphate rock could have huge implications for the electric vehicle industry.
Note: This article was written by , Research Fellow, Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements & Critical Materials, University of Birmingham. It was first published by our friends at .
The reserves, discovered in Rogaland, south west Norway by Anglo-Norwegian firm Norge Mining, are equivalent to at least聽.听
This is very close to the聽聽of world reserves that we already knew about.
Why phosphate matters
Phosphate is one of the key materials used in one type of lithium ion battery, known as 鈥淟FP鈥�, and demand for these batteries 鈥� and the underlying phosphate 鈥� is聽. It is therefore a very big deal that some commentators have suggested this new deposit could meet the world鈥檚 phosphate rock needs for the聽.听
Until this discovery, just five countries controlled聽, with 70% in Morocco alone. For now though it is China that mines the most phosphate rock, producing聽, with Morocco the next at 38 million tonnes.
This uneven distribution is a particular worry for those countries and regions that have missed out, as phosphate rock is considered a 鈥渃ritical material鈥�. Critical materials are elements that are economically important but are at risk of sudden supply disruptions or generally聽.听
The element phosphorus (phosphate is its naturally occurring form) is on the聽. In the UK, while phosphate rock is not on the critical materials list, it is instead on a聽.听
Food v cars
The new discovery could avoid a looming聽聽over scarce phosphate, perhaps with echoes of the 鈥渇ood vs fuel鈥� dilemma as聽. Currently, about 90% of phosphate production goes into聽聽(phosphorus is the 鈥淧鈥� in NPK fertilisers).
The transport industry has to be more picky: only 10% of phosphorus found in sedimentary rock is suitable to make the聽聽used in those LFP car batteries. Perhaps the new Norway reserves will mean both can have as much as they need.
Previously, there had been a greater focus on other ways to manufacture lithium ion batteries, involving nickel and other materials such as cobalt, manganese or aluminium. These batteries store more energy at the same weight.
However, they are themselves dependent on other critical elements (聽for instance is mostly found in the Democratic Republic of Congo).
Read more: Driving an Electric Car in Norway
In comparison, the materials used to produce LFP batteries are relatively cheap and abundant 鈥� some in the industry have jokingly referred to them as 鈥渞ust and fertiliser鈥� batteries.
Elon Musk has said that his company, Tesla, plans to shift more of its vehicle production to LFP batteries, which offer聽 for medium range EVs and stationary storage, that over time.
They are also generally regarded as聽, they charge quickly and, unlike their rivals, they can be聽.
While the material used in LFP batteries does not perform quite as well (in terms of storage per weight) as nickel-based batteries, carmakers have tried to circumvent the problem by making the other components of the battery lighter. This could also聽.
But herein lies another challenge for LFP batteries. Because the materials used to make them are that much cheaper, there is less value to recover at the end-of-life for recyclers, which makes the聽.
The International Energy Agency has said LFP type batteries are used in 30% of the world鈥檚 new electric vehicles, and nearly all of this 30% is聽. The market for LFP batteries is forecast to grow from聽.
In this context, the discovery in Norway is potentially a massive boon for European automakers, as one of the key battery materials might now be located on the doorstep.
A long road to production
That said, it is always a long journey from聽, finding the resource represents the foot of the mountain. While the discovery is welcome, much must be done to mobilise this resource for the benefit of the battery industry.听
If further exploration provides favourable results, Norway plans to fast-track the mine with an estimated聽.
So maybe some time in the next decade, you might enjoy your first trip in an electric car whose energy storage is enabled by Norwegian phosphate.
Note: This article was written by , Research Fellow, Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements & Critical Materials, University of Birmingham. It was first published by our friends at .
