Dassault Systèmes: Material Preservation & Clean Energy

Virtual twins and improved product circularity are two key pillars for a successful transition to clean energy, according to Dassault Systèmes’ CSO, Philippine De T’Serclaes.

She emphasises that critical materials, such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements (REEs), are vital to this transition.

Furthermore, she asserts that circularity should form the foundation of efforts to conserve and optimise these materials, with virtual twins playing a supporting role.

What is the significance of critical materials? 

In a blog on the company's website, Philippine highlights the significance of critical materials.

From low-carbon energy technologies to electric vehicles, she explains that critical materials are crucial to enabling the energy transition.

“According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), achieving global Net Zero emissions by 2050 will require six times more mineral inputs in 2040 compared to 2020. This surge in demand presents a challenge.”

Philippine goes on to state: “From wind turbines to solar panels and electric vehicles, clean energy technologies are driving up the demand for large quantities of critical materials.”

She adds that the expected supply from mines is insufficient to meet demand, meaning “there’s a high risk of supply disruption” due to:

• Finite raw material availability
• The geographic concentration of sources
• Lack of affordable substitutes.

Philippine concludes: “This scarcity highlights the urgency for the critical materials value network to prioritise circular best practices that align with global sustainability efforts.”

Circularity is critical

As with all areas of sustainability, there can be no meaningful progress without circularity.

Philippine states that it is “not merely an option but a necessity,” adding: “It extends the lifecycle of materials, transforms waste into resources and minimises dependency on finite raw resources.”

She suggests that the stages in the critical materials lifecycle cannot be viewed in isolation, without understanding how they fit together as interconnected parts of a broader ecosystem.

“A holistic, circular approach is required as we shift towards a low-waste, low-carbon generative economy in the face of growing global demand for critical materials.”

Going beyond recycling 

While recycling alleviates pressure on primary supply, Philippine points out that studies suggest that, by 2040, recycled quantities of copper, lithium, nickel and cobalt from spent batteries could reduce primary supply requirements for these minerals by 10%.

She adds: “However, recycling practices are not fully established for many materials and recycling alone doesn’t entirely eliminate the need for investment in new supply.

“This is why we must also consider emerging waste streams from clean energy technologies.”

Virtual twins & the generative economy

Philippine states that virtual twins have the potential to be both a catalyst and an enabler of the generative economy.

She adds: “Dassault Systèmes provides virtual twin experiences that facilitate the net-zero transition. Critical materials are at the core of clean energy technologies that support this transition across infrastructure, technology, healthcare and mobility sectors.”

Using virtual twins for product design, manufacturing, or within the enterprise can “increase circularity by providing the transparency and data management needed to create a collaborative ecosystem where critical materials can be traced from their extraction and sourcing through to end of life,” says Philippine.

Critical materials & opportunity

In conclusion, Philippine suggests that the challenge of limited supplies of critical materials should also be viewed as a “significant opportunity.”

“By embedding sustainable practices and circularity throughout the lifecycle of critical materials, we can rise to meet this demand responsibly.”

She highlights two examples:

Innovating alternative materials, either as replacements or complements, will help industries meet demand while reducing dependency and minimising environmental impact. Planning for end-of-life recovery through design for disassembly will enable reuse, standardise recycling and ultimately alleviate pressure on primary supply. “Achieving this requires a holistic approach – across the entire value chain and a truly collaborative ecosystem – where critical materials are transparently traced from extraction and sourcing to end-of-life and then reintegrated into the value chain, extending their lifespan.

“I believe a new approach to critical materials, powered by virtual twin technology, will facilitate the much-needed shift towards a regenerative value network, supporting a sustainable digital economy and the clean energy technologies that will shape our future.”

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