DOE, an energy innovation to launch hub for critical materials research

The Department of energy announced its 31 May until to $ 120 million over five years in a new energy innovation invest hub to identify the problems and to develop solutions during the entire lifecycle of critical materials. Rare-earth elements and other critical materials have the unique chemical and physical properties - including magnetic, catalytic and luminous properties - are important for a growing number of energy technologies. These critical materials are also at a risk of supply disruptions. The new hub, financed by up to $20 million in the fiscal year 2012, will conduct, research activities both on a reliable supply of the U.S. rare earths and other critical materials, as well as search for efficiency and alternatives to reduce the critical materials, that are needed. The work is to U.S. leadership in energy-related production, including the production of electric vehicles, wind turbines, efficient lighting and other products ahead.

Universities, laboratories, nonprofit organizations, and private companies are allowed to compete and are called on partnerships, when submitting their proposals. The award selection is expected in the autumn. The fifth energy innovation hub be established for 2010 by the Energy Department. Find the press release energy Department, the energy innovation hubs Web site, and the funding opportunity announcement.

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DOE Releases its Critical Materials Strategy

DOE released on December 22, 2011, its Critical Materials Strategy, a report that examines the role that rare earth metals and other key materials play in clean energy technologies such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, solar cells and energy-efficient lighting. The report found that several clean energy technologies use materials at risk of supply disruptions in the short term, with risks generally decreasing in the medium and long terms. Supply challenges for five rare earth metals (dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium, and yttrium) may affect clean energy technology deployment in the years ahead.

In the past year, DOE has developed its first critical-materials research and development plan, provided new funding for priority research, convened international workshops that brought together leading experts, and participated in substantial new coordination among federal agencies working on critical materials. Also, the Fiscal Year 2012 spending bill includes $20 million to fund an energy innovation hub focused on critical materials, which will help advance the three pillars of the DOE strategy: diversifying supply, developing substitutes, and improving recycling, reuse and more efficient use.

The 2011 Critical Materials Strategy is DOE's second report on this topic and provides an update to last year's analysis. Using a methodology adapted from the National Academy of Sciences, the report includes criticality assessments for 16 elements based on their importance to clean energy and supply risk. See the DOE press release and the report summary.

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