Construction + Economy, Energy + Environment

Clean Energy Technologies Expected To Create Copper Shortages

David Shiller August 31, 2022

Lighting typically utilizes copper in:

Luminaire wires
LED module circuit boards
LED drivers
Smart lighting controllers
Most building electrical wiring

Recent climate action is going to increase clean energy technology deployment that will significantly increase copper demand. A recent article by David Gordon of Channel Marketing Group explores how climate action could impact the copper market.

Copper usage has historically been driven by new building construction in the US and, more recently, China. Copper demand is expected to double in the next 10 years. Electrification climate solutions, such as solar, offshore wind, onshore wind, tidal power, biomass, battery storage, geothermal energy, bioenergy, nuclear power, hydropower, EVs, and the need to improve the grid will spike demand beyond supply, and prices will go up.

There is likely to be accelerated research into copper alternatives, including aluminum alloys and graphene. The full article is available here.

David Shiller

David Shiller is the Publisher of LightNOW, and Senior Business Development Consultant at Capacity Consulting, a North American consulting firm providing business development services to advanced lighting manufacturers. The ALA awarded David the Pillar of the Industry Award. David has been co-chair of the ALA’s Engineering Committee since 2010. David established MaxLite’s OEM component sales into a multi-million dollar division. He invented GU24 lamps while leading ENERGY STAR lighting programs for the US EPA. David has been published in leading lighting publications, including LD+A, enLIGHTenment Magazine, LEDs Magazine, and more.

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