Day 66/100 - Understanding REs in power sector :- 💥 So we are at Cerium, let's continue that : Where it is Actually used and why ? 1️⃣ Solar panel manufacturi

Day 66/100 - Understanding REs in power sector :- 💥 So we are at Cerium, let's continue that : Where it is Actually used and why ? 1️⃣ Solar panel manufacturing - When the solar panel is made the glass of the panel require a plan scratch free surface which directly relate to the amount of power the solar is going to produce. A small scratch on the surface of solar panel can reduce the amount of electricity it is going to produce. Here's the role of cerium stands - Cerium oxide is used as the polishing agent to achieve a perfect scratch free surface which will directly increase the efficiency of the panel in the energy generation. 2️⃣ Protecting panel components from the sun rays - The glass on the panel is uses sun rays to produce energy obviously but the harmful rays of the sun ultraviolet rays slowly damage the component inside the panel so for the same once again the cerium comes and protect the panel. It basically act as a sunscreen for the component inside the panel. This also increase the life of the panel over a long run. 3️⃣ Steel used in wind turbine towers - As the wind turbine tower is a massive long structure and it has to face wind forces, vibration and extreme cold in many part of the world and stell in cold condition can become brittle and crack. Here's the hero enters in the game, Cerium is added in the wind turbine towers so that the towers can face this issues like vibration, wind forces and extreme cold. 4️⃣ Fuel cell - A fuel cell is a device that generates power directly from hydrogen or natural gas without burning it. It is most cleanest way to produce power without explosion, flames or an moving parts. It is used in power buildings, data centres, hospitals, and industrial facilities. Cerium is a core material by which air oxygen moves inside the cell and generate electricity. 5️⃣ Petroleium refining - The upstream segment of power sector uses cerium to breakdown the heavy and thick crude oil into lighter that the fuel we actual need. Let's understand the supply chain and the geopolitical view : Cerium is every where geologically Australia, USA, India, China, Brazil etc. So in this china does not have a monopoly on this situation. But when the topic is about "Rare Earth" and China is not in the front how is this possible ? 🧐 The problem - The main problem with cerium is to processing not mining, Even it is presented in many countries it is difficult to turning them in to industrial use cerium and here China stands. China dominate to process cerium not to mine cerium, even if you have extracted cerium from USA, Australia etc. you have to send it to China for process it for industrial use. Around 85 to 90 percent of global rare earth processing including cerium happens in China. China be like - Hamare pass nhi aaoge to kiske pass jaoge ? 💸 More about the sector will be followed up on tomorrow. Thanks for your attention. #powersector #research #rareearthelement #dailypost