Planetary Water Limits Pose Challenge to Geological Resource Production

Planetary Water Limits Pose Challenge to Geological Resource Production
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Mar 14, 2025

The extraction and processing of geological resources, including critical metals and minerals essential for renewable energy and energy storage technologies, require substantial amounts of energy and water. As global demand for these materials continues to rise due to population and economic growth, concerns are mounting over whether their production can remain within sustainable water use limits, known as planetary boundaries.

While much of the discussion on geological resource availability has focused on reserves and resources within the ecosphere and technosphere, production constraints extend beyond raw material availability. Mining, beneficiation, and refining processes are highly water-intensive, and in many regions, water consumption for resource production has already exceeded sustainable levels. Currently, 24% of global water demand surpasses the carrying capacity of regional water supplies, raising alarms about the long-term feasibility of increasing mineral production to meet future needs.

A new study, led by Dr. Masaharu Motoshita of the Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, explores how regional water constraints impact geological resource production. The research examines water consumption across approximately 3,300 mines worldwide, assessing 32 key resources to determine whether their production remains within sustainable water limits.

"We demonstrated in our previous study that major watersheds, accounting for 80% of total water consumption, are already experiencing excessive water use beyond their sustainable capacity," says Dr. Motoshita.

The findings reveal that the production of 25 out of the 32 analyzed resources surpasses regional water availability thresholds. Notably, while iron production is highly water-intensive, only 9% of its global output exceeded water constraints in 2010. In contrast, copper production, which has lower overall water consumption, saw 37% of its current production surpassing sustainable water use limits. This suggests that regional water stress plays a significant role in determining which resources face the greatest production risks.

The study highlights that shifting resource extraction to regions with lower water stress could mitigate some challenges. However, relocating mining operations is often impractical due to economic, logistical, and geological limitations. Since minerals are found in specific geological formations, many high-demand resources cannot simply be mined elsewhere.

"The results of our research will help anticipate supply chain disruptions for metals and minerals essential for modern green technologies, including renewable energy and energy storage," Dr. Motoshita explains. "Enhancing resource efficiency, improving recyclability, and exploring alternative materials will be key strategies in addressing future supply risks. Additionally, these insights can inform policy decisions related to resource exploration, procurement, and sustainability targets."

As global demand for critical materials continues to grow, the study underscores the need for a comprehensive approach to managing environmental constraints in geological resource production. Addressing these challenges will be crucial in achieving long-term sustainability and supporting the transition to clean energy and decarbonization goals.

Research Report:Geological resource production constrained by regional water availability