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The unexpected catalyst: Mining and the energy transition
The modern world hinges on the materials extracted from beneath our feet. From construction to electronics and medicine, mining underpins industries we rely on daily. Today, clean energy technologies are the main driver of demand for critical raw materials such as lithium, copper, and rare earths—making mining pivotal for the energy transition and global sustainability goals. Despite its reputation as a dirty industry, it is undergoing a profound transformation, adopting technologies and practices to reduce its footprint.
This Mining Challenge was the central theme of the bauma TALK podcast episode, "The unexpected catalyst: Mining and the energy transition," published on April 2, 2025, featuring industry expert Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Clausen.
Introduction of the speaker
Zur Person
- Professor and Director at the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT) at RWTH Aachen University, leading research in automation, digitalization, and electrification of mining machinery and processes.
- Recognized expert in mining engineering with hands-on industry experience and a strong background in research, innovation, teaching, and leadership.
- Is developing innovative technologies for automated and digitalized mining systems in collaboration with mining operators and OEMs.
- Committed to advancing sustainable and responsible raw materials supply through technological innovation and international collaboration.
The indispensable role of raw materials in modern life
The world's reliance on mined materials is staggering, with 18.7 billion metric tons extracted globally in 2022. Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Clausen emphasizes the foundational nature of mining: "Mining is at the beginning of every value chain and therefore is a key sector when it comes to growth and development and crucial for achieving sustainability goals." This indispensable role, however, comes with significant challenges, as every mining operation is unique, facing harsh and often unpredictable conditions.
Mining is at the beginning of every value chain and therefore is a key sector when it comes to growth and development and crucial for achieving sustainability goals.
To illustrate mining’s pervasive impact, Professor Clausen highlights the example of smartphones, which contain a variety of essential raw materials like gold, copper, silver, tantalum, cobalt and rare earth elements. These raw materials form complex global supply chains and are increasingly seen as “critical” due to supply risks. Still, Clausen emphasizes: “We definitely should not underestimate the importance also of other raw materials such as construction raw materials or industrial minerals… equally of significance for the economy and society.”
Clean energy technologies further accelerate this trend. “It is true that the energy transition inevitably comes with this shift in the in the resource space and it is also true that, for example both electrical vehicles or renewable energy technologies, generally require more mineral raw materials for example copper, nickel or rare earth elements than normally conventional technologies. Therefore, clean energy applications have definitely become the main driver of demand growth for a range of critical minerals”, explains Prof. Dr. Clausen. “In 2023 lithium demand rose by 30%, while nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements all increased 8–15%,” she adds. Looking ahead, lithium demand could grow nearly ninefold by 2040, with copper almost doubling—figures that underscore the massive scale of mining needed in the decades to come.
Mining vs. sustainability?
The common perception of mining as inherently destructive clashes with the urgent need for raw materials to achieve a sustainable future. Professor Clausen challenges this notion directly: “We need more mining to achieve sustainability goals and mining itself contributes to achieving the sustainability goals in several ways." She explains that mining actively contributes to sustainability through:
- Driving Innovation and Efficiency: Mining is increasingly shaped by new technologies – from energy-efficient processes to water recycling and waste reduction – making the extraction of raw materials more sustainable.
- Protecting Land and Biodiversity: Responsible mining companies actively engage in land reclamation and ecosystem restoration, helping to offset the environmental footprint.
- Enabling the Circular Economy: Mining provides the essential raw materials that later enter recycling streams, reducing dependence on continuous primary extraction.
- Supporting Global Sustainability Goals: Mining can contribute directly to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by providing the raw materials that can later be recycled, reducing the dependence on continuous primary extraction.
Essentially, the Mining Challenge is not to stop mining, but to conduct it in a way that minimizes harm and positively contributes to global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Therefore, the industry is already actively tackling several major sustainability challenges at once:
- CO₂ emissions: Reduction through electrification of devices, use of renewable energies, and increased efficiency through automation and AI.
- Water Management: Sustainable water management, including recycling and reducing usage, is critical.
- Biodiversity Impact and Land Rehabilitation: Responsible mining includes significant efforts in land reclamation and ecosystem restoration post-operation.
The Technological Revolution: Automation, Digitalization, and Electrification
The key to overcoming all these challenges lies in technological progress, including in the mining sector.
Technological advancements in the mining sector are crucial for improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Nowadays, the most important developments are seen in automation and robotics, digitalization, and electrification.
Automation and robotics are transforming operations with autonomous trucks and drilling systems, boosting productivity and safety. “The use of highly automated or autonomous trucks, drilling machines and robotic systems has the potential to change mining operations”, Prof. Dr. Clausen explains. A key challenge is managing the continuously changing mining environment, where technologies need to minimize the level of uncertainty by anticipating the environment. This is where AI and machine learning can support by identifying patterns and improving decision making processes.
Digitalization, including IoT devices, sensors, cloud computing, and digital twins, enables real-time data analysis to optimize workflows, enhance safety, and cut energy use. However, digitalization faces challenges in data quality, availability, and interoperability, and the need for ruggedized sensor solutions for harsh environments still exists. Furthermore, establishing the necessary communication infrastructure across vast mining areas is highly cost-intensive, requiring the value of the data in terms of increasing efficiency or reducing costs to outweigh the investment in such infrastructure.
For more information about connectivity and networked construction, check out our episode “Talking machines: The new language of networked construction”
Electrification marks another breakthrough: Battery-electric vehicles, such as haul trucks and shovels, can lead to a “major step in reducing the industry's environmental impact cutting emissions lowering costs and also improving energy efficiency.” Yet, as Clausen stresses: “It’s not simply about replacing a diesel engine with an electric motor. It is much more about a meaningful integration of the technology.” Instead, it requires comprehensive adaptations in operational geometries, established mining cycles, fleet management, solutions for battery charging infrastructure, and maintenance strategies.
The mining industry has always been innovative, and we are where we are today because it has consistently succeeded in making the necessary resources available at each point in time and in adapting and innovating to the respective conditions and challenges.
A Vision for 2040
Looking ahead to 2040, Professor Clausen envisions the mining industry remaining a crucial sector, responsibly fulfilling its duty to provide essential raw materials safely and efficiently. "The mining industry will play a key role in supporting global development while minimizing its environmental footprint and will contribute to the well-being of communities worldwide."
More information about the Mining Challenge
To the key topic "Mining Challenge"
Frequently asked questions about the Mining Challenge
Why is mining considered crucial for growth, development, and sustainability goals?
Mining is at the beginning of every value chain, providing the essential raw materials needed for construction, manufacturing, energy production, electronics, and medicine, thereby underpinning all modern industries and critical for achieving sustainability targets.
How does the energy transition specifically increase demand for raw materials?
Electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies like solar and wind power are significantly more mineral-intensive, requiring higher quantities of materials such as lithium, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements compared to conventional technologies.
Is mining's environmental impact a fundamental conflict with sustainability?
Professor Clausen argues the opposite: "We need more mining to achieve sustainability goals.” Responsible mining can contribute through efficiency improvements, water recycling, waste reduction, land reclamation, and supporting the circular economy, aligning with sustainability objectives.
What are the primary levers for reducing carbon emissions in mining?
Key strategies include the electrification of mining equipment, transitioning to renewable energy sources for operations, and enhancing operational efficiency through automation and AI-driven technologies.
What technological advancements are transforming the mining sector?
The most significant advancements are in automation and robotics, digitalization, and electrification. These include autonomous equipment, AI/machine learning, IoT devices, digital twins, and battery-electric vehicles.
What makes the electrification of mining equipment a complex undertaking?
It goes beyond simply replacing diesel engines; it requires a meaningful integration of new technology, necessitating adaptations in operational geometries, mining cycles, fleet management, charging infrastructure, and maintenance strategies.
What is Prof. Dr. Clausen's vision for the mining industry in 2040?
She envisions a crucial sector that responsibly provides essential raw materials in harmony with nature and society, embracing innovation and sustainability to support global development and contribute to community well-being.
What is the significance of the bauma for the mining industry?
bauma serves as a vital international hub, offering a platform to experience the future of mining, showcase new innovations, foster connections, gain valuable insights, and engage in discussions about the industry's future and the Mining Challenge.