Fossil-fuel-based power generation is losing its financial advantage over energy from renewable sources, largely thanks to steadily declining prices for green power - solar PV and onshore wind are now just below the critical fossil-fuel cost range - and with the arrival of better and cheaper storage technology. However, carbon power still seems to hold one trump card: it uses far fewer critical and rare-earth minerals than cleaner counterparts.
This worries economic analysts, who predict large deficits affecting the industry if new mining endeavours fail to succeed in unearthing commodities essential for electric vehicles and other green power developments. On the other hand, environmental activists worry that a rushed mining boom risks the environment instead of saving it. Both sides have good arguments in their favour.