Government plans to achieve 15% renewable energy by 2020 may soon become unattainable unless swift action is taken to recycle some of the planet's rare earth metals (REMs), according to the RICS submission to the government's Science & Technology Committee. These 17 metals are fundamental components in all current renewable energy technologies - from solar panels, wind farms and hydroelectric turbines to possible energy conservation systems and nuclear applications. However, RICs claims that with the Chinese government controlling around 97% of REM production & growing global shortages, a recycling programme is "badly needed" to protect the future of renewable energy production. Abundant quantities of REMs already exist "above ground" in the form of obsolete consumer technology, with an estimated 30M computers & laptops containing these metals currently lying unused in the UK. RICS would like to see a comprehensive recycling programme introduced to meet demand, and safeguard the future of renewable energy. Rebecca Mooney, RICS project executive said: "The growing shortage of REMs could very soon have a considerable impact on the future of renewable energy. Many current green technologies are wholly-reliant on these elements. These metals are difficult to isolate & mine, yet we are allowing them to be disposed of after just one use."
