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The Forum > Article Comments > A new lithium war is about to begin > Comments

A new lithium war is about to begin : Comments

By James Stafford, published 27/4/2018

It's the modern gold rush. Around the world, the most sought-after mineral isn't a precious metal, nor is it oil and gas…it's lithium.

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Excellent well-researched article. But misses a few important lithium deposits right here in Australia. Those folk fighting for coal because they or their trusts own significant parcels of coal company shares? Would be wise to cut their losses and get out. Coal is mostly carbon and man-made graphene is a product of chemical engineering and carbon. A wise man would replace their coal shares with our own lithium miners. As for coal, let's not forget it remains a useful source of extractable methane which can be treated in a catalytic process to convert it to methanol, a petrol substitute. Or even jet fuel or diesel alternatives. And until we have completely transitioned to electric transport? Even electric planes using an electric high-speed turbine, like a giant Dyson in reverse? The new graphene battery and or capacitors look very interesting. But particularly capacitors which can be fully recharged I'm told, in as little as 30 seconds. And via magnetic interfaces located at convenient stops/metered parking. Graphene batteries may treble range and electric planes would be lifted by electric railgun catapults? Otherwise, most recharging could be accomplished via under pavement facilities, to recharge public (or private) transport options. Alan B. P. S. And I never mentioned MSR's or thorium once in the comment nor the fact, thorium is an indicator mineral used in aerial surveys to locate significant rare earth (lithium?)deposits via side-looking radar.
Posted by Alan B., Friday, 27 April 2018 10:31:28 AM
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Who wrote the headline for this?
A rush is NOT a war!
Posted by Aidan, Friday, 27 April 2018 10:56:36 AM
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Anything that challenges the economic might of the weaponized fossil fuel industry, is a war! An economic war! And none more threatening than an electric future. Replete with lithium-ion batteries an graphene capacitors? That can be fully recharged in a little as 30 seconds? Or worse and even more confronting on all energy fronts is dreaded MSR thorium. And technically, less than 7 years away. Thorium is or was an indicator mineral that lit up side-looking radar. Making finding these rare earth deposits the easiest of all to find, via geophysical aerial surveys. Let the hostilities and economic hell be let loose on all fronts against the coal-fired/fossil fueled giant economic adversaries! Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Saturday, 28 April 2018 10:47:22 AM
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Alan B.,
>Anything that challenges the economic might of the weaponized fossil fuel industry, is a war! An economic war!

No it isn't. At most it's a revolution. But even that's unlikely, as many of the fossil fuel companies are sufficiently diversified to survive, and in some cases even exploit, the changes.

I'm glad to see you now regard thorium reactors as "less than 7 years away" rather than claiming they're ready now despite the industry saying otherwise.
Posted by Aidan, Saturday, 28 April 2018 11:08:28 PM
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All I have ever proposed was R+D into MSR'' and thorium. Never ever sad they were ready now, but have pointed out in any number of occasions that our aging coal-fired power stations need to be replaced with something! And that something would logically be MSR thorium with the few minor bugs ironed out! Typical of an aggressive Adian to go the verbal, misrepresent, try and put words in my mouth and obfuscate! We don't need a working reactor today, but if we did, I'd assume you Adian, would prefer a traditional light water reactor; the production of weapons-grade plutonium and mountainous waste? Given your often puerile, or patently ideological attack on thorium and MSR's Or just renewables minus the enforced subsidy and power prices nudging 50 cents PwH? And with that scenario the departure to parts unknown of the last remnants of our manufacturing sector? You're such a bright lad aren't you laddie? Alan B.
Posted by Alan B., Sunday, 29 April 2018 11:37:45 AM
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Alan B; charge a car in seconds !
Is that what you said ? A phone battery maybe, but you would not be
able to lift the cable to plug it into your car.

330 Kvolt towers would have to be run to every service station.
errrgh
Posted by Bazz, Tuesday, 1 May 2018 5:38:38 PM
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International competition for Lithium and rising cost to battery manufacturers may be a short-term phenomena, unlikely to last much beyond 2025. Alternative and better means of storing electricity, using other more plentiful metals such as aluminium, are likely to have been developed and put into production by then.

Development of fuel-cell technology is also likely to have made advances making lithium battery storage for EV’s redundant because of fuel-cell ability to increase vehicle range and do so more cost-effectively than lithium.

Increase in the cost of lithium – and oil – will stimulate commercial development of substitutes which are cheaper and more efficient.
Posted by Agnostic of Mittagong, Saturday, 19 May 2018 5:26:42 AM
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There are I believe better batteries for off grid and solar buffering
purposes for domestic and industrial purposes.
I have been reading about Nickle Iron batteries.
They are very rugged, can be completely discharged, then just
recharged back to normal operation. They can be not used for years
and then just recharged and away they go.
Depending on the physical construction they can be refurnished with
new electrolyte if needs be and are reputed to last for 40 years plus.
There are companies supplying them in Sydney for domestic solar
uses. They seem ideal to me.
Posted by Bazz, Sunday, 20 May 2018 1:56:07 PM
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