Geološki aspekti zelene tranzicije i održivog razvoja na primjeru litij-ionskih baterija

master's thesis

• Title (english): Geological aspects of green transition and sustainable development on the example of lithium-ion batteries
• Author: Patricia Cikuš
• Mentor: Gordana Medunić (mentor)
• Committee member: Gordana Medunić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Zorica Petrinec (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Damir Bucković (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Geology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2023-02-24, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Geology; Mineralogy and Petrology

Abstract

Litij-ionske baterije (LIB) trenutno se najviše istražuju za korištenje u električnim vozilima (EV), koja slove za ekološki najprihvatljivije rješenje za smanjenje emisije CO2 u atmosferi, a dio su zelene tranzicije, odnosno prelaska na obnovljive izvore energije ili pronalaska alternativnih rješenja trenutnim tehnologijama koje povećavaju količinu CO2. Za sad se pretpostavlja da zapravo takvo rješenje nije idealno, odnosno industrija EV je zelena i u skladu s održivim razvojem samo kada se radi o krajnjem produktu (EV imaju nultu emisiju CO2), a stvaran utjecaj industrije EV i LIB na okoliš je lošiji nego industrija konvencionalnih vozila, zato što je samo rudarstvo ključnih elemenata za proizvodnju LIB iznimno neodrživo i štetno za okoliš, stoga se radi na pronalasku načina kako rudarstvo učiniti što održivijim. Osim što je štetno za okoliš, rudarstvo ključnih elemenata (poput kobalta) etički je upitno zbog loših uvjeta u kojima rudari rade i žive. Činjenica je da se legislativa oko zelene tranzicije i održivog razvoja u aspektu proizvodnje LIB i EV mora urediti tako da bude što manji utjecaj na okoliš i društvo, pogotovo u državama koje su najveći proizvođači ključnih elemenata.

Abstract (english)

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are currently mostly researched for use in electric vehicles (EVs), which are considered the most environmentally friendly solution for reducing CO2 emissions in the atmosphere, and are part of the green transition, i.e. switching to renewable energy sources or finding alternative solutions to the current technologies that increase the amount of CO2. It is assumed that such a solution is not ideal, i.e. the EV industry is green and sustainable only when it comes to the final product (EVs have zero CO2 emissions), and the real impact of the EV and LIB industry on the environment is worse than the industry of conventional vehicles. The mining of key elements for the production of LIB is extremely unsustainable and harmful to the environment, so it’s crucial to find ways to make mining as sustainable as possible. In addition to being harmful to the environment, the mining of key elements (such as cobalt) is ethically questionable due to the poor conditions in which miners work and live. The legislation surrounding the green transition and sustainable development in the aspect of LIB and EV production must be arranged so that there is as little impact on the environment and society as possible, especially in countries that are the largest producers of key elements.

• Keywords: litij-ionske baterije; zelena tranzicija; električna vozila; održivi razvoj; ključni elementi
• Keywords (english): Li-ion batteries; green transition; electric vehicles; sustainable development; key elements
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:428731
• Study programme: Title: Graduate university study of Environmental Geology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra geologije (magistar/magistra geologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2023-06-21 09:39:54