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Framework for evaluating renewables integration in the copper value chain
Rasmeet Singh1,2, Gabi Burge3, Muhammad Haider Ali Khan1,2
1School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
Iscience
|July 26, 2026
Summary
Increasing copper demand faces carbon constraints. OpenCu, an open-source framework, models copper value chains, finding green production can cut emissions by 75% and costs by 20%.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Environmental Science
- Economics
Background:
- Rising global electrification drives increased copper demand.
- Primary copper production is energy-intensive and faces growing carbon emission regulations.
- Current techno-economic models often lack integrated emissions accounting for the full copper value chain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce OpenCu, an open-source Python framework for analyzing mine-to-export copper value chains.
- To integrate techno-economic assessment with operational emissions (Scope 1-2) accounting.
- To evaluate the impact of different production strategies and logistics on cost and carbon footprint.
Main Methods:
- Development of a modular framework linking process-resolved mass and energy balances.
- Integration of levelized cost of production, operational emissions, logistics, and policy settings.
- Application of a corridor-level multi-criteria assessment for export pathways.
Main Results:
- Fossil-intensive copper production costs approximately $4,900 t-1 Cu with ~5,900 kg CO2e t-1 Cu emissions.
- Green production portfolios (renewable electricity, electrification, low-carbon transport) reduce emissions by 70-75% and costs by up to 20%.
- Chilean and Australian cathode exports to the EU show favorable value capture and lower carbon-price risk.
Conclusions:
- OpenCu provides a robust tool for designing climate-aligned copper supply chains.
- Transitioning to green production strategies is economically viable and crucial for decarbonization.
- Strategic export corridor selection can optimize economic and environmental outcomes for copper producers.
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