The world is rapidly shifting to clean energy, and this is changing how we power our lives. Technologies like solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles (EVs) need a lot more minerals than traditional fossil fuel systems.
For example, EVs use six times more minerals than regular cars. Onshore wind farms need nine times more minerals than gas power plants. Since 2010, the mineral use for each new power plant has jumped by 50%. This rise is mainly because renewables are growing fast.
Meanwhile, along with this clean energy transition, AI is the new player that is adding more pressure to global mineral supplies. IEA’s latest Energy and AI report shows that the rapid growth of AI and digital infrastructure is increasing demand for key materials already needed by the energy sector.
This means data centers, which power AI, rely on a wide range of critical minerals, many of which overlap with clean energy technologies.
Clean Energy Vs AI’s Mineral Requirements
Each clean energy tool depends on specific minerals. Batteries need lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite. Amongst all, lithium is the key to making lithium-ion batteries, which power backup systems in data centers. These batteries help keep things running during power outages.
Similarly, wind turbines and EV motors use rare earth elements for their magnets. Copper and aluminum are key for power lines and grids. Copper is especially important because it’s used in almost every clean energy device.
IEA predicts that by the 2040s, clean energy could account for over 40% of copper and rare earth use, 60–70% of cobalt and nickel use, and nearly 90% of lithium use. Already, EVs and batteries use more lithium than electronics. Soon, they’ll also use more nickel than stainless steel.
Minerals used in clean energy technologies compared to other power generation sources
AI’s Mineral Requirements are Complex
However, figuring out exactly how much mineral demand AI growth will create isn’t easy. That’s because there’s limited detailed data on what types of chips, processors, cooling systems, and storage equipment different data centers use.
Data Centers Demand More Than Just Power
Building and running data centers isn’t just about electricity. These digital hubs need large amounts of copper, aluminum, silicon, gallium, rare earth elements, and battery minerals.
- Copper is essential for power systems, cooling networks, and fast data cables.
- Aluminum, valued for its lightweight and heat resistance, is used in server racks and protective casings.
- Silicon, especially in its purest form, forms the core of chips, memory, and storage devices.
- Gallium-based compounds like gallium nitride and gallium arsenide are now common in high-speed processors and energy-efficient electronics.
- Rare earths such as neodymium, dysprosium, and terbium play a crucial role in motors, cooling fans, and precision parts.
Still, estimates show that by 2030, the rise in data centers could drive:
- 2% of the global demand for copper and silicon
- Over 3% for rare earth elements
- A huge 11% for gallium
Even though data centers won’t be the biggest users of these minerals, the total amounts are significant. It’s about 512,000 tonnes of copper and 75,000 tonnes of silicon by 2030. This means project developers need to take mineral supply seriously.
Looking ahead, defense, clean energy, construction, aviation, and AI will all be competing for the same limited mineral resources. For some, like copper, the supply is already falling short of demand. And the added pressure from growing AI data centers could make it worse.
Governments and industries will need to plan diligently to make sure they can meet future demand without slowing down critical projects.
Heavy Reliance on a Few Countries Puts Mineral Supply at Risk
One major issue with critical minerals is that most of the world’s supply comes from just a few countries. In 2024, the top three producers- China, Chile, and the DRC supplied:
- Almost 60% of refined copper
- Around 90% of aluminum
- Over 90% of silicon, magnet-related rare earths, and gallium
This heavy concentration makes global supply chains vulnerable. If something disrupts production, like extreme weather, accidents, trade conflicts, or political tensions, it could lead to serious shortages.
China’s Export Restrictions
These risks aren’t just hypothetical. In late 2024, China placed export restrictions on gallium, germanium, and antimony targeting the U.S. As a result, gallium prices outside China more than doubled in just five months.
China also added controls on graphite, followed by even more limits in early 2025 on tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, indium, and molybdenum. These minerals are key for advanced tech, defense tools, and data centers. And the trade war continues with Trump imposing huge tariffs on Chinese imports.
All of this shows how fragile the mineral supply chain has become. If these materials become harder to get, the cost of building and running data centers and other tech could rise sharply. This wouldn’t just affect companies, but also consumers and the broader economy.
Is a Mineral Security Crisis Brewing?
As more sectors from clean power and EVs to defense and digital tech chase the same scarce minerals, the risk of shortages is growing. Without urgent action, supply issues could raise costs and slow down vital projects worldwide.
Data center and AI growth would only flourish in the future. The potential solution could be if countries and companies diversify mineral sources, invest in recycling, and strengthen supply chains. The race for minerals is no longer just about the energy shift, it’s about protecting the future of global technology.
