Discover the crucial raw materials in Greenland that the EU is interested in. Learn about what they’re seeking and why these resources matter.

    Modern society relies on raw materials that are often invisible but crucial in the background. They support digital communication, industrial processes, and modern infrastructure. Additionally, new green technologies aimed at climate neutrality greatly boost the demand for specific minerals. To understand why Greenland is increasingly highlighted in this context, it is useful to distinguish between two main types of demand.

    Raw materials for modern technologies

    Many raw materials are essential for technologies that have already become part of everyday life. Smartphones, computers, data centers, medical devices, and industrial machinery depend on a reliable supply of certain metals and minerals, such as those used in semiconductors, high-performance alloys, electronics, and chemical manufacturing. Disruptions in the supply chain of these raw materials can directly impact industrial output, digital infrastructure, and economic stability.

    Raw materials for new green technologies

    The shift towards a low-carbon economy introduces a second, rapidly expanding layer of demand. Renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, battery storage, hydrogen technologies, and modern power grids all require significant amounts of specific raw materials. Compared to traditional technologies, green alternatives tend to demand more materials. Wind turbines, electric motors, and batteries rely on elements like rare earths, lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and graphite. As these technologies grow, so does the strategic importance of their raw materials. This combination of industrial dependence and increasing green demand explains the EU’s focus on critical and strategic raw materials.

    What does “critical raw material” mean?

    A raw material is deemed critical by the European Union if it simultaneously meets three criteria:

    1. Its importance to key European industries
    2. Its supply is at significant risk due to factors like geopolitical concentration or a limited number of producers.
    3. and the lack of easily available substitutes.

    Criticality is not fixed. It evolves over time as technologies, markets, and supply chains change. A material may become critical if demand spikes or supply becomes more centralised. In its 2023 assessment, the European Commission identified 32 raw materials as critical, highlighting their particular vulnerability within the European economy.

    What does “strategic raw material” mean?

    Besides critical raw materials, the EU also designates strategic raw materials. These are materials that might not fulfil all criticality criteria but are regarded as vital for long-term strategic goals.

    Strategic raw materials are crucial in fields such as:

    • energy infrastructure and electrification
    • renewable energy systems
    • transport and mobility
    • industrial resilience and security

    In the 2023 assessment, copper and nickel were identified as strategic raw materials. Although their supply risks are currently lower than those of some other critical materials, their vital role in the energy transition and industrial transformation makes secure access essential. This distinction clarifies why conversations about raw materials focus not just on scarcity but also on future planning and resilience.

    Which EU critical and strategic raw materials are found in Greenland?

    According to geological assessments, Greenland contains a diverse array of raw materials classified by the European Union as either critical or strategic. These materials are found in various geological formations throughout the country and are used for a wide range of technological applications. To improve clarity, the overview below aligns with the EU classification, grouping the raw materials based on their primary uses.

    EU Critical Raw Materials in Greenland

    Critical raw materials are those where Europe faces both high economic dependence and a higher risk of supply disruption. Greenland hosts geological occurrences of many of these materials.

    Materials essential for green technologies and electrification

    Greenland hosts several critical raw materials from the EU, vital for renewable energy systems and electric mobility:

    • Rare earth elements are used in permanent magnets for wind turbines, electric motors and generators. Greenland hosts both light and heavy rare earth elements, which is particularly relevant as heavy rare earths are globally scarce.
    • Lithium is a key component of rechargeable batteries and occurs mainly in southern Greenland.
    • Cobalt and nickel are used in battery technologies and high-performance alloys.
    • Graphite is the primary material for battery anodes and shows high geological potential in several parts of Greenland.
    • Vanadium is used in steel alloys and emerging battery technologies.

    These materials are directly linked to the expansion of renewable energy, energy storage and electric transport.

    Materials for high-tech and industrial applications

    Greenland also contains several crucial raw materials that are less obvious but vital for advanced technologies:

    • Niobium and tantalum, used in electronics, aerospace components and high-strength alloys.
    • Hafnium and zirconium, important for aerospace, nuclear technology and advanced ceramics.
    • Tungsten, used in cutting tools and high-temperature industrial applications.
    • Titanium, used in lightweight materials, pigments and corrosion-resistant alloys.

    These materials often occur together due to their chemical properties and are typically extracted from complex mineral systems.

    Industrial minerals and chemical raw materials

    Some EU critical raw materials in Greenland are mainly used in industrial and chemical processes:

    • Fluorspar, used in refrigeration, chemicals and metallurgy.
    • Phosphate rock and phosphorus, essential for fertilizer production and food security.
    • Strontium and silicon metal, used in electronics, glass production and industrial manufacturing.

    In several cases, additional critical materials such as gallium or germanium may occur as by-products during processing of other metals.

    EU Strategic Raw Materials in Greenland

    The EU defines strategic raw materials as those crucial for long-term industrial resilience and the energy transition, regardless of their current supply risk.

    Copper and nickel

    • Copper is fundamental for electricity transmission, power grids, electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. It occurs in multiple geological settings across Greenland.
    • Nickel plays a dual role. It is important for batteries and stainless steel production and is also relevant for emerging energy technologies.

    Although neither copper nor nickel meets the strict EU criteria for criticality, their role in electrification and infrastructure makes them strategically indispensable.

    References
    (1) https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials/critical-raw-materials-act_en
    (2) https://www.crmalliance.eu/critical-raw-materials
    (3) https://www.sgu.se/en/mineral-resources/critical-raw-materials/

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