Copper consumption in wind technologies Report

Insight 27 August 2019

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Wind technology is the most copper-intensive form of power generation and is anticipated to consume the largest amount of copper over the next ten years in this sector.

Henry Salisbury, Wood Mackenzie Research Analyst, quoted in Mining Review Africa
02 September 2019

What’s inside this report?

We analyse how the global increase in wind energy has affected copper demand.

We also investigate the variables which dictate the intensity of copper in projects and the potential risks to our consumption forecasts.

What key questions does this report answer?

What will the increase in wind technology mean for copper demand forecasts?
Where is copper consumed within wind technology and how much copper is required?
How will copper consumption in wind technologies differ regionally?
Could higher copper prices drive manufacturers to substitute copper for cheaper alternative materials?

A chart showing copper consumption by wind farm component

Report summary

Since 2000, over 550 GW of wind energy capacity has been installed worldwide. Governments have set out to transition from a dependency on carbon emission-intensive power to more renewable energy sources. As a result, wind energy has become a popular technology choice. Due to the intensity of copper within wind farm projects and the increasing demand for wind energy, the consumption of copper is substantial and is forecast to grow at a strong pace over the next 10 years.