US DOE's $17 Million Investment Set to Boost Rare Earth Extraction from Coal

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has earmarked over $17 million for the implementation of three distinct projects aimed at establishing facilities geared towards the production of Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and other critical minerals sourced from coal-based resources. Supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this initiative is poised to fortify domestic supply chains and mitigate the nation's reliance on foreign origins for these indispensable materials.

REEs play a pivotal role in the manufacturing of clean energy technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cells. The DOE's financial support will play a crucial role in harnessing these essential elements from coal and coal waste, potentially catalyzing job creation in conventional fossil fuel communities and contributing to endeavors aimed at mitigating climate change.

The United States, which presently imports over 80% of its REEs, boasts extensive reserves of coal and coal waste harboring these valuable materials, as highlighted in the DOE's press release. With a staggering 250 billion tonnes of coal reserves, four billion tonnes of waste coal, and approximately two billion tonnes of coal ash at its disposal, the DOE is keen on leveraging these unconventional resources to fortify the nation's economic and energy sectors. The allocated funding will lend critical support to the development of front-end engineering design (FEED) studies for potential future facilities dedicated to the extraction, separation, and production of REEs and other critical minerals.

One of the awarded projects entails the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Board of Trustees conducting a FEED study aimed at establishing a fully integrated supply chain for critical minerals production sourced from coal-based origins within Illinois.

In Georgia, Winner Water Services will spearhead efforts to extract rare earths from coal ash, concurrently preparing the ash for utilization within the concrete market. Meanwhile, Tetra Tech, based in Pennsylvania, will undertake a study focused on the recovery of rare earths from coal byproducts. The oversight of these projects will be facilitated by the DOE's National Energy Technology Laboratory, operating under the purview of the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management.

Through these strategic investments and collaborative endeavors, the US DOE is poised to foster innovation, promote sustainability, and bolster the nation's resilience in critical mineral supply chains. By tapping into the vast potential inherent in coal-based resources, the United States stands to enhance its energy security, promote economic growth, and chart a course towards a more sustainable and self-reliant future.