US injects $5.5m funding into critical minerals and materials projects

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $5.5 million in funding for six innovative projects aimed at advancing sustainable and cost-effective processes to produce and refine critical minerals and materials domestically. This initiative, funded by the CTs Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Team , seeks to reduce reliance on foreign sources of critical minerals and materials by strengthening domestic supply chains, generating jobs, and supporting communities historically dependent on mining and energy production.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm emphasized the importance of this funding: “Building a clean energy and industrial economy requires strategically tapping into our nation’s reliable domestic resources to meet this demand and strengthen energy security. We are investing in alternative products developed from more abundant materials, reducing import dependency, lowering costs, increasing U.S. competitiveness, and enhancing national security.”

Reducing Foreign Dependency on Critical Minerals

The U.S. currently imports over 95% of the rare earth elements required across various industries. More than 50% of the supply for most critical minerals comes from foreign sources, with at least 12 critical minerals exclusively imported. These new projects aim to reverse this trend by developing technologies that utilize abundant domestic resources, thus enhancing U.S. energy security and lowering costs.

Six Innovative Projects for Alternative Technologies

The ‘Critical Material Innovation, Efficiency, and Alternatives’ initiative will provide up to $150 million in funding across multiple project rounds. The initial six projects focus on alternative energy technologies using domestically sourced critical minerals and materials, marking a significant step toward a more robust supply chain. The projects include:

• CorePower Magnetics: Developing a high-performance electric motor that eliminates the need for rare earth elements, evaluating various rare earth-free permanent magnet technologies.
• Giner, Inc.: Creating lower-cost rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles using domestically available materials like manganese, iron, titanium, and magnesium.
• Ohio University: Focusing on coal-derived hard carbon anodes for next-generation sodium-ion batteries, offering a lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
• Semplastics: Utilizing low-cost coal feedstocks to develop an alternative anode active material that can substitute graphite in lithium-ion batteries.
• University of Tennessee: Developing a rechargeable alkaline-manganese dioxide battery using environmentally friendly electrolytes and U.S.-sourced materials.
• Worcester Polytechnic: Creating a process to convert nickel-lean polycrystal cathode materials into nickel-rich single-crystal materials for advanced battery applications.

DOE’s Commitment to Expanding Critical Minerals

In addition to these projects, the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has committed $171 million since January 2021 to support critical minerals exploration, production, and processing, particularly in traditional mining and energy-producing regions. These efforts aim to minimize environmental impacts while aiding the U.S. transition to a net-zero emissions economy.

By investing in innovative approaches to develop and refine critical minerals and materials, the DOE is ensuring a more secure and sustainable energy future for the United States, reducing reliance on foreign resources, and strengthening the domestic economy.

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