The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $150 million in funding for the development of new ways to produce minerals and critical materials, with the goal of reducing reliance on imports.
Projects sought are the research, development and demonstration at bench or pilot scale of new technologies for the extraction, production, separation and processing of minerals and critical materials in an environmentally responsible and affordable manner. The grant also supports work exploring substitutes for scarce minerals and critical materials that can be used for clean energy generation. It also supports projects that aim to make possible the production of value-added products from waste materials, as well as those that develop energy technologies or designs that encourage the use of materials of local origin.
“The funding, provided by the bipartisan Infrastructure Act, will help meet growing demand for minerals and critical materials while reducing our reliance on offshore supplies,” the DOE said in a news release Wednesday. “Critical minerals and materials are key to manufacturing clean energy technologies, such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells, that will help the United States meet its ambitious climate goals. “Biden-Harris Administration”.
Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm said in a statement: “The investments announced today enhance national security by reducing our reliance on foreign sources, while strengthening an existing mining and energy workforce to develop a sustainable supply for these vital materials here in the US.”
Production of coal minerals
The new grant follows an offer of $30 million in funding for the development of “ecologically benign” ways to extract minerals and other byproducts from coal to curb offshore dependence and reduce costs. Projects that may qualify include those working on “advanced process development for the production of rare earth metals and the co-production of critical minerals and materials from coal-based resources,” according to the official opportunity notice on August 21 on the FedConnect website.
“Since January 2021, DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management has announced an estimated $41 million in projects that support critical mineral and materials exploration, resource identification, production and processing in traditional fossil fuel mining and producing communities across the country.” the DOE said in Wednesday’s announcement. “This total includes $16 million in bipartisan Infrastructure Act funding for detailed engineering studies and costs for a unique domestic facility that will extract and separate rare earth elements and critical minerals from unconventional sources such as mining waste.
“This funding will create new opportunities to repair land and water while generating rare earth elements needed for a clean energy economy.”
Import dependency
In announcing the two funding opportunities, the DOE noted that the US is dependent on the import of rare earth minerals, but has domestic resources that have yet to be tapped.
Imports accounted for more than half of apparent US consumption of 51 non-fuel minerals in 2022, according to an annual report by the US Geological Survey. “Of the 50 mineral products identified on the ‘2022 Final Critical Mineral List,’ the United States was 100 percent dependent on net imports for 12, and an additional 31 critical mineral products (including 14 lanthanides, which are listed on rare earths) had a net import dependence of more than 50 percent of apparent consumption,” said the report titled “Mineral Product Summaries 2023.”
DOE said in Wednesday’s announcement: “The funding opportunity announcement released today will help build a secure and sustainable domestic supply of critical minerals from a wide range of sources in the United States, including recycled materials, waste of mines, industrial waste and minerals. deposits”.
Environmental safeguards
The announcement said applicants must engage with communities about the potential social impacts of their projects. They will be asked to outline strategies to ensure “robust benefits for the community and workers” and will be required to report on actions taken and results, the DOE said.
“Applicants must explain how projects are expected to provide economic and environmental benefits and mitigate impacts; conduct community and stakeholder engagement; incorporate diversity, equity, inclusion and affordability; and promote workforce development and quality jobs,” the department said.
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