Energy shortages innovation hub tackles of the rare earth metals

The Energy Ministry on January 9 selected Ames Laboratory for a price of $120 million within five years for the creation of an energy innovation hub, solutions to the shortage of rare earth metals and other materials, the impact on US energy security will look. The new critical materials Institute (CMI) in Ames, Iowa, is a researcher from the Department of Idaho National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, as well as incorporate the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and academia, and the private sector.

The new hub focuses on the technologies with which the United States better use of available materials and the need for the materials to eliminate, that are subject to disruptions. Many materials from the Department as security-critical are considered in wind turbines, solar cells, electric vehicles and used energy-efficient lighting. The Department 2011 critical materials strategy report that challenges five metal of the rare earth metals (dysprosium, Terbium, europium, neodymium and yttrium) dissemination of clean energy technologies can affect the supply in the coming years. In the last few years have the Energy Ministry and scaled other work on these challenges. Recent investments have Department advanced research projects Agency energy and Office of energy efficiency and renewable energy more than 40 million $ in magnet, motor and generator research supported.

CMI will use in a larger, coordinated efforts, these existing research programmes. The hub will address challenges throughout the lifecycle of these materials. Cross-cutting research, including development of computational tools and supply chain and economic analysis, the basic science will be also necessary to support needs in all areas of challenge. Selected by an open national competition with a rigorous merit review process, which relied on external experts, is made by the Department of energy since 2010 CMI the fifth energy innovation hub. See Energy Department press release.

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