The U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for up to $500 million to expand U.S. critical mineral and materials processing and derivative battery manufacturing and recycling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\u201cFor too long, the United States has relied on hostile foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials that are essential in battery manufacturing and materials processing,\u201d said U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright. \u201cThanks to President Trump\u2019s leadership, the Department of Energy is playing a leading role in strengthening these domestic industries that will position the U.S. to win the AI race, meeting rising energy demand, and achieve energy dominance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The DOE said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson is currently in Japan, meeting with regional allies at the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum (IPEM) to advance shared efforts on supply chain resilience and energy security issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am delighted to be in Japan meeting with our allies, underscoring the important connection between critical materials and energy security,\u201d said Robertson. \u201cCritical minerals processing is a vital component of our nation\u2019s critical minerals supply base. Boosting domestic production, including through recycling, will bolster national security and ensure the United States and our partners are prepared to meet the energy challenges of the 21st century.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Funding awarded through the NOFO will support demonstration and\/or commercial facilities for processing, recycling, or utilizing for manufacturing of critical materials, which may include traditional battery minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, aluminum, as well as other minerals that are contained within commercially available batteries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the third round of funding issued through DOE\u2019s Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling programs. The department is seeking projects in the following topic areas for applicants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Domestic Critical Minerals Processing from Raw Feedstocks<\/strong>: Increase U.S. processing capacity for critical minerals and materials for use in advanced batteries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Domestic Critical Materials Recycling<\/strong>: Increase recovery of battery critical minerals through recycling of manufacturing scrap and\/or off-specification or end-of-life batteries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Domestic Battery Materials and Component Manufacturing<\/strong>: Increase domestic manufacturing capacity for strategic battery materials, components and technologies. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
More information can be found here<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n