2023 Critical Materials Strategy

Critical metals are technologically vital to the functionality of various emerging technologies, yet they have a potentially unstable supply. This condition calls for strategic planning based on the expected long-term demand and supply of these metals and the implications attached. Here, we provide the first systematic review of studies (88 studies in all) exploring the projected long-term status of various critical materials, covering 48 elements with 546 data points for global demand through 2030 and 2050. Interestingly, results indicate that, to date, no long-term demand outlook is available for some high criticality metals. We also find that the social and environmental implications induced by demand growth are largely overlooked in these studies, resulting in less attention being given to the spatial divergence between consuming and producing countries in the global supply chain. Moreover, circular economy strategies that include component reuse and remanufacturing have been barely incorporated into the modelling frameworks presented in these studies, while end-of-life recycling is heavily focused on. In addition, elemental linkages (e.g., indium-zinc-steel) are underemphasized, leading to a lack of understanding of future availability and sustainable cycles. All of these findings affirm the need for further scientific research that explores the long-term status of critical metals, which strongly connects to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations and implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Review of critical metal dynamics to 2050 for 48 elements

Summary Wind power needs to be expanded rapidly across the world to stabilize our climate. However, there are increasing concerns about conflicts between the supply of rare-earth elements (REs) (mainly neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium) and the global expansion of wind power. Here, we provide a dynamic, technology-rich, and regional-specific approach to exploring such conflicts among ten world regions through 2050 under four widely recognized climate scenarios. We find that the significant increase in RE demand driven by the ambitious 2050 global wind-power targets cannot be achieved without 11- to 26-fold expansion in the RE production. Material recycling and efficiency, production expansion, and technical innovation are promising for alleviating RE supply shortages in the long term. However, the existing global RE supply structure, along with the intensifying geopolitical and environmental constraints, could inhibit the rapid expansion of wind power, which calls for global cooperation to foster a sustainable and responsible RE supply chain.

Critical Rare-Earth Elements Mismatch Global Wind-Power Ambitions

Wind power is often posed as a greenhouse gas emission mitigation option, yet from a global perspective, the constrained supplies of rare-earth metals required for large-scale offshore wind turbines seem increasingly likely to provide limits to offshore wind power and other rare-earth-metal applications in the coming years. A 2015 US Department of Energy study maps an ambitious roadmap for offshore wind power to be capable of meeting substantial US electric-generating capacity by 2050. Our study addresses the neodymium material requirements that would be needed. We find that regional differences in deployment schedules will result in complex patterns of new capacity additions occurring concomitantly with turbine retirements and replacement needs. These demands would total over 15.5 Gg (15.5 kt) of neodymium by 2050, of which 20% could potentially be avoided by circular usage from decommissioned turbines but only if recycling technologies are developed or, better still, magnets are designed for reuse. Because neodymium is deemed to be a ‘critical material’, these perspectives are vital information for the formation of policy related to wind-energy provisioning, to domestic production, and to the importation of the rare-earth elements that would be required. Large-scale offshore wind turbines require rare-earth metals with a limited natural supply. This study addresses the neodymium material requirements needed to meet substantial electric generating capacity in the United States and estimates how much could be reused from decommissioned turbines.

Impact of the establishment of US offshore wind power on neodymium flows

The conventional rare earth element (REE) industry has historically sought to develop ore deposits where geologic processes have produced mineralized zones with commercially attractive REE concentrations. These deposits are extremely uncommon, particularly in the USA. Given the criticality of these materials and the need for sustainable domestic supply, the current research seeks to leverage other autogenous processes that lead to concentrated REE resources. One such process is the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD). AMD is very common in many coal mining districts and results from the exposure and oxidation of pyrite during mining. During the generation and migration of AMD, liberated sulfuric acid mobilizes several metal ions including REEs. Treatment of AMD is required under U.S.C §1251, the Clean Water Act, and often consists of neutralization, oxidation, and metal hydroxide precipitation. To investigate the deportment of REEs during this process, a field sampling campaign was undertaken, whereby the concentration of REEs in AMD and AMD precipitates was measured directly. In the nine sites evaluated in this study, the REE concentrations of the precipitates varied from 29 to 1286 ppm with an average of 517 ppm among the sampled sites. The individual elements were enriched compared with the associated bulk Northern Appalachian (NAPP) coal material by factors ranging from 3 to 15. Furthermore, the distribution of REEs in all precipitate samples favored the heavy REEs (HREEs) when compared with traditional REE ores. This research represents the first part of multi-part research endeavor to characterize, classify, and determine the practicality of refining REEs from AMD and its by-products.

The Occurrence and Concentration of Rare Earth Elements in Acid Mine Drainage and Treatment By-products: Part 1—Initial Survey of the Northern Appalachian Coal Basin

An assessment of U.S. rare earth availability for supporting U.S. wind energy growth targets

prolonged cycling exercise time to fatigue and potassium regulation during -acetylcysteine infusion on N Effects of intravenous

performance in well-trained individuals Pyruvate ingestion for 7 days does not improve aerobic

In the new era of increasingly electric aircraft, the need for reliable and safe electrical systems is more important than ever. In addition, the wide-scale adoption of dc distribution is considered a key enabling technology for more efficient aircraft operation. In this context, arc fault detection devices (AFDDs) have become a topic of interest for the aviation industry with ongoing research to characterize the impact and adequately protect against severe dc series arc faults. Although dc arc faults have been widely investigated for utility applications (such as solar photovoltaic systems), direct adoption of current practices for validating arc detection devices is not straightforward due to the distinct aircraft operating environment. This article provides a first-of-its-kind landscaping exercise of published series arc fault testing based on factors associated with aircraft applications that have the potential to influence the arc characteristics. In addition, an appraisal and associated gap analysis of published arc test platforms is undertaken in order to assess their suitability to support in-depth testing of the impact and mitigation of series arcs within future aircraft dc electrical systems and identify future testing needs, in particular, to better facilitate a comprehensive performance validation of new AFDDs.

Review of DC Series Arc Fault Testing Methods and Capability Assessment of Test Platforms for More-Electric Aircraft

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An assessment of U.S. rare earth availability for supporting U.S. wind energy growth targets

prolonged cycling exercise time to fatigue and potassium regulation during -acetylcysteine infusion on N Effects of intravenous

performance in well-trained individuals Pyruvate ingestion for 7 days does not improve aerobic

Review of DC Series Arc Fault Testing Methods and Capability Assessment of Test Platforms for More-Electric Aircraft