EP 5: Mining for Sustainable Energy

The sectors responsible for our highest emissions are energy supply, by generating electricity from burning fuels, business, by commercial use of electricity, residential, via heating homes, and transportation. In total, these account for approximately 78% of current emissions.

In the quest to become a greener society the relationship between our extractive industries and how they collaborate with space could be key. Another key part of the puzzle could be Lithium, which can be mined right here in the UK.

Lithium is a vital component of “next-generation” batteries which will be used in electric vehicles and for the storage of renewable power. As a result of such developments, global demand for lithium is forecast to grow by around 400% by 2025. Lithium has now become a vital metal for technologies that enable a rapid transition towards a low carbon economy.

This research project focused on the development of new and innovative satellite-based techniques that have the potential to reduce the cost of lithium exploration substantially. Such remote sensing techniques can also reduce the environmental impact of exploration by enabling better targeting of prospective areas.

We are pleased to have Maggie Aderin-Pocock on board to present and introduce our first series of podcasts. A British space scientist and science educator, Maggie is an honorary research associate of University College London’s Department of Physics and Astronomy. Since February 2014, she has co-presented the long-running astronomy television programme The Sky at Night with Chris Lintott. In 2020 she was awarded the Institute of Physics William Thomson, Lord Kelvin Medal and Prize for her public engagement in physics.

Resources

• Find out more about Cornish Lithium on our Projects Hub.
• Visit our Extractive Industries market page to explore our focus areas and find related blogs and events.
• MineSense Community – The Satellite Applications Catapult, European Space Agency, and United Nations Crime Institute (UNICRI) together established the MineSense group to provide a platform for stakeholders of the mining and space industries to collaborate and discuss new technologies, opportunities, and solutions to solve challenges of mining industry using space technology.
  • Find out more
  • Visit the LinkedIn group

Get in Touch

If you’d like to contact us about any episode of In-Orbit, collaboration opportunities, or to find out more about how we can help your business, please email marketing@sa.catapult.org.uk

• Satellite Applications Catapult: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
• Cornish Lithium: Twitter, LinkedIn, Website
• Innovate UK: Twitter, LinkedIn, Website
• GlobalTrust: Twitter, LinkedIn, Website