Heightened demand for copper will come from wind turbine manufacturers where it is used in power , control and instrument cables , the generator , cooling and heating systems , the transformer and grounding systems . The average copper content per installed wind turbine is 2.5-6.4 tonnes per megawatt . Global ’ s expanding fleet is expected to consume more than 5.5mn tonnes of the metal by 2028 with renewable energy sources now supplying America ’ s grid with 18 % of its electricity . One wind farm can require between four and 15mn pounds of copper .

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