Why the energy transition needs a global critical materials databank

Critical materials (also referred to as critical minerals) – such as cobalt, chromium, copper, graphite, lithium, silver and others – are essential for the needs of the energy transition, because they are increasingly used in the production of clean energy technologies, namely solar panels, wind turbines, batteries and electric cars. Having access to and ensuring supply of critical materials are among the key drivers of technological innovation, as China’s clean energy manufacturing boom demonstrates.

Critical materials markets are characterized by complex geography and a complicated market structure of extraction, processing and the intermediate and final use of metals. This complexity requires the availability of quality data – but most mineral supply markets remain highly opaque due to limited information. This is a serious bottleneck that is already disrupting mineral supply chains and poses a risk to the ongoing energy transition.

Therefore, enhancing global collaboration on data and creating a unified data repository on critical materials have become imperative. As of December 2024, no such global data depository exists.

In 2023–2024, I led a study as part of the joint project between the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) that examined the global data governance landscape for critical materials. We mapped and reviewed the main actors involved in governing critical materials supply chain data, including national government institutions, international organizations and foundations, mineral associations and commercial data providers. In total, 45 data sources produced by the International Lithium Association, International Nickel Study Group, OECD, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and others (37 organizations in total) were reviewed, with a focus on data accessibility, transparency and coverage.

The main finding of the study is that global data governance of critical materials markets is highly fragmented, and international data collaboration is limited. Detailed data are available for some materials, but such data are often scattered across multiple sources. Each source is useful in its own way and may extensively cover one or several elements of mineral supply markets. However, critical materials data are often embedded in larger databases that include other types of commodities. Some data sources lack wide representation from different geographies. Access to the most recent data often requires subscriptions from commercial providers, with some costing tens of thousands of US dollars per source.

Moreover, no source is comprehensive, and none gives a full and timely picture of all the central elements of critical materials markets. As the infographic below indicates, data limitations are more severe for the downstream stages of critical materials value chains than for the upstream ones. Global data on reserves, production and trade tend to be extensive and detailed, but only limited data are available on the processing, stockpiling, use and recycling of critical materials. This situation makes supply and demand forecasting more difficult and reduces the accuracy of research results.

Existing data are often low-quality, outdated and difficult to compare. According to Stuermer and Wittenstein, various organizations in different parts of the world use non-standardized and non-harmonized data-collection formats; moreover, international critical minerals data sharing remains limited. This complicates the assessment of the criticality of materials, renders it more difficult to take well-informed investment and policy decisions, and can lead to supply chain disruptions, price spikes, resource nationalism, trade disputes and geopolitical tensions. This can also contribute to slowing down the global deployment of renewable energy.

The coverage of different minerals and their supply markets by existing international data sources varies greatly. The infographic below shows that nickel is covered by 11 data sources and copper by 10. The data on both markets are relatively comprehensive, though scattered across various sources. Data for other minerals are significantly more limited, making market forecasts highly uncertain and limiting the transparency of resource governance. Rare earth elements – graphite, chromium and other minerals – are represented by a few sources, while titanium, tungsten, vanadium and zirconium supply markets are covered by only a single source.

Most of the existing international data sources on critical materials originate in the OECD member states, or the countries of Latin America. No similar data initiatives have been found in Africa, Central Asia, East Asia, or South Asia, although small ones led by non-government organizations exist. This represents a serious gap in global governance of critical materials, as many major global mineral producers are low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia (e.g. Central Asia).

To address the data challenges, the study proposes establishing the Materials for the Energy Transition – Repository & Information Collection (METRIC), a unified, open and transparent global repository of data on critical materials, covering extraction, trade and criticality assessment. A new governance initiative needs to be based on and implemented according to good governance criteria, such as transparency, participation and accountability (see the table below).

METRIC would provide a unified, open and transparent data architecture and governance framework for critical materials where all the essential data are located and managed in one place. The repository could become a much-needed global public good that can be accessed and used by governments, civil society, citizens, international organizations, researchers, entrepreneurs and investors. It would improve transparency and information flow about critical materials market expansion and supply.

Pursuing cooperation on critical materials between different actors with diverging interests and agendas is complicated and challenging. To make the global depository work, it is essential to foster strong international collaboration between data providers on data unification, standardization, sharing and use. Drawing on successful data management initiatives in other industries (e.g. the JODI data platform for global oil markets), METRIC could be coordinated by a multistakeholder coalition.

Therefore, the international clean energy community needs to work together to urgently build the repository, as it would greatly accelerate the deployment of renewable energy technologies globally and reduce geopolitical risks at a time of increasing international tension.