Influence of the development of solar photovoltaic industry on the relationship between supply and demand of key minerals in China

Abstract

The importance of mineral resources cannot be ignored in the country's economic and social development and is of vital significance in securing China's continued economic and social prosperity. Against the backdrop of the country's active promotion of the clean energy industry, the booming development of the photovoltaic industry has triggered a growing demand for its key raw materials, especially important metallic minerals. Based on the system dynamics theory, the article uses Vensim to construct a photovoltaic cell-key metal mineral simulation model to analyze the development of China's photovoltaic industry in depth and focuses on its far-reaching impact on the supply and demand relationship of key minerals. The results of the study show that (1) China's photovoltaic cells show strong growth; (2) recycling and technology substitution can significantly reduce the risk of copper and aluminum supply and demand imbalance; and (3) technology substitution is more effective than recycling in reducing the supply and demand imbalance of copper and aluminum. Based on the above-mentioned findings, the article puts forward corresponding policy recommendations.