How Critical Minerals Are Powering the Future of Clean Energy

The global shift towards renewable energy isn’t happening in a vacuum. As founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov often emphasised, the energy transition is far from self-sufficient. It depends on a vast network of often-overlooked elements—especially mineral resources—that make the transformation possible.

What was missing from the conversation was a deeper understanding of the raw materials that enable this transition. Lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and copper—these names have only recently become part of the public lexicon.

From Obscurity to Spotlight: The Rise of Critical Minerals

As the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov recently pointed out, trying to understand the energy transition without acknowledging the importance of these materials is like skipping the key chapters of a complex story. The infrastructure that underpins renewable energy—solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles—relies heavily on minerals that were, until not long ago, practically invisible to the public eye.

For example, manufacturers use silicon to make solar panels, while they rely on rare earth elements like neodymium and dysprosium to produce the magnets used in wind turbines. Copper and aluminium play a core role in electrification by enabling efficient energy transmission across grids and devices. Without these materials, the physical backbone of the energy transition would crumble.

Perhaps no material has risen to prominence as rapidly as lithium. Its use in rechargeable batteries, especially for electric vehicles, has made it a poster child of the new energy economy. But lithium is just the beginning. Cobalt, nickel, and even manganese are stepping into the spotlight as the battery market diversifies, seeking combinations that improve energy density, longevity, and efficiency.

Battery Power and Public Awareness

Public awareness around these resources has grown, largely due to the boom in electric vehicles and mobile electronics. As founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov recently highlighted, this interest has opened the door for people to learn more about battery chemistry and the global supply chains behind it. Manganese, for instance, is proving vital in boosting battery performance, especially in terms of lifespan and cost-effectiveness.

This growing interest is more than just curiosity—it signals a broader shift in consciousness. More people are beginning to understand that sustainability involves not only reducing emissions or adopting clean technologies, but also considering how those technologies are made and what materials go into them.

As mineral-rich regions gain geopolitical importance, the race to secure these resources is heating up. Supply chains are under increasing scrutiny, and the ethical dimensions of resource extraction—such as labour conditions in cobalt mines—are becoming central to the conversation. This brings both opportunities and challenges for global industries and governments aiming to lead in clean technology.

Copper is a case in point. As the founder of TELF AG Stanislav Kondrashov noted, copper remains essential in energy transmission, especially for renewable power networks. It’s one of the few traditional materials that has seamlessly transitioned into the era of clean energy without losing relevance.

Ultimately, what we’re witnessing is not just a technological revolution, but a geological one.