KAUST Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST):

Critical Minerals Seminar

Abstract

A transition to clean energy, such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar photovoltaics, needs to be supported by a massive amount of minerals. Will there be enough for everyone? Why are countries so concerned? We want to increase minerals supply fast enough to accelerate the energy transition to meet our climate goals; and we also want to make sure that supply is not increased via irresponsible mining projects that harm environment and communities. How can we achieve both?

Biography

Dr. Ke Wang leads Energy Minerals and Circularity at World Resources Institute (WRI), addressing the grand challenge of meeting the world's need for energy transition minerals, both in time and in ways that are responsible for people and nature. Prior to her current role, Ke was the Program Director of PACE (Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy), where she oversaw a broad program portfolio including electronics, food, plastics, textiles, capital equipment, and metrics. She led PACE’s flagship knowledge products such as the Circular Economy Action Agenda, and Circular Economy as a Climate Strategy. She has extensive experience in building and managing partnerships, including large project consortia such as EU Horizon CIRCUSOL (circular business models for the solar power industry). Before pivoting her career to sustainability, Ke spent nearly a decade in healthcare innovation in the private sector. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physics from Stanford University and an Executive MBA from Rotterdam School of Management.