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ContactCritical Minerals and Materials at
NETL’s Research & Innovation Center (RIC)
I am interested in
ClaiMM
EDX ClaiMM is a centralized data & analytical platform revolutionizing U.S. critical minerals and materials (CMM) activities
RIC Research & Development (R&D) Plan
RIC R&D Plan integrates data from initiatives across NETL’s CMM program, filling in gaps in CMM understanding
METALLIC
METALLIC is validating, improving, and commercializing CMM technologies via resources of 9 national labs
PrOMMiS
PrOMMiS is accelerating the development and deployment of extraction and purification processes for critical minerals/rare earth elements at reduced risk
Technology Commercialization Fund
This fund aims to enhance the commercialization and deployment of leading energy technologies
The Critical Materials Innovation Hub
The CMI Hub conducts research in four focus areas: enhancing and diversifying supply, developing substitutes, building a circular economy, and crosscutting research
Securing a Dependable Domestic Supply
NETL’s RIC has a broad portfolio of research to support the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) goal of enabling domestic supplies of critical minerals (including rare-earth elements), thereby securing U.S. leadership in materials that are essential to energy security and national security.
Our Portfolio
Our portfolio spans the spectrum from resource characterization through processing/extraction to manufacturing strategies for new materials/products; and we are exploring pathways to domestic mining of the future.
Our Research
Our research relies on a broad set of expertise and facilities developed by decades of investment across a range of energy missions — spanning geoscience to materials science to engineering science to data science, with capabilities in computational engineering, bench-scale experiments, process scale-up, and artificial intelligence & machine learning (AI/ML).
Our Goal
Our goal is to accelerate innovation to deployment — facilitating domestic supply chains that could transform the U.S. from a net importer to a net exporter within the decade. To accomplish this goal, we routinely collaborate with partners. If you are interested in exploring a partnership or collaboration, we invite you to contact us.
What are Critical Minerals and Materials?
Discover what makes a mineral or material “critical,” why they matter for our economy and national security, and how they’re used in everyday technologies.
Explore Our Pipeline and Education Opportunities
From workforce development to internships and educational partnerships, see how we’re building the next generation of talent in critical minerals and materials.
Our CMM Projects & Programs
Get a closer look at our current initiatives, research efforts, and collaborations designed to advance innovation and sustainability in critical minerals and materials.
See all projects & programs ￫
(coming soon)
Recent Publications and Datasets
Rare Earth Elements
Our research portfolio data products, including datasets, tools and supplemental information, are available on NETL’s Energy Data eXchange (EDX®) platform to support collaboration with researchers from multiple organizations and connecting the CMM community to resources in support of DOE Office of Fossil Energy mission and goals.
Critical Minerals
Learn More About Recent Projects
Accelerating Valorization via AI and HERMES
Spanning 7 national laboratories, HERMES is a new initiative to develop and validate streamlined methods to characterize and valorize unconventional feedstocks.
Using DOE’s User Facilities to Find CMs in Fossil Feedstocks
Researchers at NETL are tapping advanced DOE user facilities to help determine the binding environment for CMs and REEs in complex geologic matrices
Discovering New CMM Recovery Methods for Fossil Energy Related Wastes
NETL scientists are developing innovative and targeted CMM extraction/processing methods via geochemistry and chemical engineering from multiple fossil energy related wastes, such as fly ash, acid mine drainage treatment wastes, and oil and gas produced waters.
Extracting Critical Minerals from Shale-Gas Reservoirs Using Precision Techniques
NETL is revaluating US sedimentary formations for energy production, and through technological advancement of process, developing methods to extract CMM from the rock matrix with a focus on enhanced use of existing infrastructure.
