Italy Aims for Autonomy in Rare Earths through Recycling, Says De Santoli
Livio De Santoli, prorector of La Sapienza University in Rome, advocates for recycling to achieve autonomy in the supply of rare earths and critical materials, reducing dependence on external sources, particularly China. He emphasizes the need for the European Union and Italy to focus on strategic supply chains and circular economy practices.
De Santoli envisions creating a European supply chain for these materials, positioning Italy as a recycling hub for strategic components. He also highlights the importance of transitioning to renewable energy to enhance competitiveness, noting that Italy has the highest energy costs in Europe.
De Santoli calls for massive development of offshore wind and hydrogen technologies, aiming for 2.1 GW capacity by 2030. He stresses the need to rethink energy models to support sustainable data centers, which are projected to double energy consumption in the next decade.
