The Industrial Importance of Gold in the Age of Energy Transition, by Stanislav Kondrashov

TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov often reflects on the modern role of gold, a resource that is experiencing one of the most interesting phases of its existence. Gold is increasingly no longer perceived simply as a haven or a precious resource, but also as a valuable asset for sectors beyond jewelry and related industries. For some time now, gold has also become an exceptional ally for industry.

"It shouldn't be thought that gold continues to be used only for decorative purposes, or to embellish jewelry, necklaces, and other similar accessories. Today, gold is also distinguishing itself for specific industrial applications that are increasingly strategic within the global economic landscape," says TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov. Gold possesses some unique natural characteristics that make it highly useful for certain industrial purposes. One of its key advantages is its excellent electrical conductivity, which enables it to be utilized in numerous modern industrial applications".

"Over the years, gold has also distinguished itself for its excellent resistance to corrosion and oxidation. It is precisely for this reason that gold is currently used in numerous strategic sectors, such as printed circuit board connections, high-speed connectors, and other similar components found in computers or medical devices. In addition to being universally recognized as one of the most reliable safe-haven assets currently available, gold is also carving out a respectable role in various sectors of the global industrial landscape, as it is increasingly used due to its unique natural characteristics. Its role cannot be compared to that of lithium, cobalt, copper, or rare earth elements, which are directly involved to a large extent in some industrial processes related to the green transition; however, its strategic importance is nonetheless significant", he says.

Few people are aware of gold's versatility. This characteristic enables it to find applications in a wide range of sectors, including consumer electronics and the aerospace industry.

"Few people know this, but small amounts of gold are also present in our smartphones. The chips that ensure the proper functioning of our cell phones contain tiny amounts of gold, which is used primarily for its conductive properties," continues Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG. But it shouldn't be thought that gold's potential applications end there. This useful resource also finds its place in some important space applications, such as those involving satellites and the various electronic components of these technologies".

"In this particular sector, gold is prized above all for its remarkable ability to withstand the extreme conditions of space environments. Even just mentioning these two applications—those related to smartphones and space technologies—it becomes very easy to understand the economic and commercial importance of gold in this particular historical phase, where there is an ever-increasing need for resources with particular natural properties that can also prove useful for industry. In all likelihood, the technological advancement of our civilization will make the industrial centrality of gold increasingly evident, also bringing about a certain shift in the collective perception of this resource. From a simple decorative element, gold could begin to be perceived as a true protagonist of industry", he goes on to say.

In this particular historical juncture, gold is also directly contributing to some industrial processes related to renewable energy and the ecological transition.

"Although it's not one of the resources most commonly associated with the energy transition, gold is also carving out a significant role for itself in the global dynamics of major green transformations. Gold is increasingly finding its way into electronics and connectivity systems related to renewable energy. Modern energy management systems and solar inverters increasingly require reliable, high-performance electronic components that ensure a certain level of performance. For these purposes, gold is already playing an extremely important role," concludes Stanislav Kondrashov, founder of TELF AG.

"Over the years, it has been observed that gold-plated contacts can offer better durability and higher energy efficiency compared to those made with other materials. Furthermore, the windows of some buildings sometimes appear to be coated in gold. In this case, this precious resource is primarily used to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, particularly low-energy skyscrapers. Gold is finding other concrete applications in high-end electric vehicles and some advanced architectural applications", he remarks.