The evolving impact of renewable energy investment on the rare earth trade network: An industrial chain perspective

Hongwei Zhang and Jiayi Jiang

Energy, 2025, vol. 332, issue C

Abstract: As a strategic mineral resource, rare earth plays an important role in the energy transition. Due to the increased renewable energy investment (REI), the demand for rare earth continues to grow. This paper analyzes the topological characteristics of global rare earth trade networks from the perspective of the entire industrial chain. Furthermore, the dynamic impact of REI on the evolution of rare earth trade networks is studied based on the temporal exponential random graph model (TERGM). The results show that different countries have different roles and positions in the industrial chain. The impact of REI on rare earth trade patterns varies by position in the industrial chain and intensifies over time with varying levels of investment. REI is more beneficial for the export of rare earth traded in the upstream and midstream. Additionally, the impact of REI is heterogeneous for countries at different economic levels. Lower-middle-income economies benefit the most from REI in the upstream and midstream, while high-income economies benefit the most in the downstream. This paper suggests that countries should pay special attention to REI to increase the level of rare earth trade and industrial development.

Keywords: Renewable energy investment; Rare earth; Complex network; TERGM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:332:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225028373

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.137195

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