Hi Ken, yes - aluminium is used instead of copper, e.g. overhead transmission cables. However it has lower conductivity. Silver is the most conductive, but obviously not affordable!
Do you have any sense of what proportion of the electrification-driven upsurge in demand for copper could be satisfied using aluminum (or some other alternative conductor)? I ask because this would help understand how problematic the copper shortage is likely to be.
My understanding is that very little is replaceable with something more abundant (aluminium also is likely to see the market tighten). The good news is that we rarely can anticipate the path innovation will take, but it reliably overcomes to avert anticipated scarcity.
Is there a good alternative to copper for conducting electricity? Is there any prospect for inventing a new alternative?
Hi Ken, yes - aluminium is used instead of copper, e.g. overhead transmission cables. However it has lower conductivity. Silver is the most conductive, but obviously not affordable!
Do you have any sense of what proportion of the electrification-driven upsurge in demand for copper could be satisfied using aluminum (or some other alternative conductor)? I ask because this would help understand how problematic the copper shortage is likely to be.
My understanding is that very little is replaceable with something more abundant (aluminium also is likely to see the market tighten). The good news is that we rarely can anticipate the path innovation will take, but it reliably overcomes to avert anticipated scarcity.