Deep sea mining: What’s the true cost of renewable energies? | DW Documentary

The idea is that electric cars, solar panels and wind turbines will reduce our consumption of coal, oil and gas and we all use them more or less in the next few years. However, these technologies rely on many raw materials present below the seabed because there are not enough resources for them on the ground. The race for deep sea resources has begun and countries with their companies are in it.

The immense demand for metals such as nickel, cobalt and copper for electromobility and alternative energy sources has so far largely been met in the south emisphere - in Africa, Asia and Latin America. But these deposits aren’t enough, many people's attention is now turning to the oceans. Here, it’s thought that vast deposits of the metals exist below the seabed. A geopolitical race has begun between states to exploit these resources and DW is telling us more about it. Extraction of the metals threatens to cause major ecological damage so take care about the nature.