NETL recently created a framework to assess the economic viability of recovering rare earth elements (REEs) from unconventional feedstocks like coal and coal waste — an advance that is part of NETL efforts to unlock new domestic sources of critical minerals (CM) that can ease the Nation’s dependence on foreign sources for the minerals. The success was the subject of a new article in a prestigious science journal.

NETL researchers leading the development of cutting-edge technologies to mitigate climate change will share their knowledge and expertise with engineers and scientists from five continents at the 47th International Technical Conference on Clean Energy, which will be held July 23-27 at the Sheraton Sand Key in Clearwater, Florida.

The University Coalition for Basic and Applied Fossil Energy Research and Development (UCFER), which was established in 2015 to promote collaboration among NETL and 15 universities, is preparing to conclude the seven-year effort, which resulted in more than $16 million of federal funding awarded to 43 research projects that significantly advanced energy research, including clean energy projects focused on developing carbon management technologies.

An award-winning technology, developed by an American company with support from NETL, uses coal waste as an anode material in lithium-ion batteries — an innovation that researchers believe is an eco-friendly way to help the U.S. reduce reliance on foreign countries for critical materials that are needed to support the growing demand for batteries used in battery electric vehicles (BEVs), energy storage, and other products.

NETL expertise was showcased at a recent workshop held to develop innovative pathways to produce hydrogen as a clean and affordable fuel of the future and identify opportunities for collaborative research efforts among national labs, academic researchers and industry partners.

NETL research focused on finding and characterizing unconventional sources of rare earth elements (REEs) reached a pivotal maturation point this year with the public release of several tools and publications to help stakeholders accelerate next-generation, clean-energy technologies by tapping into a domestic supply of these critical minerals (CMs).

In support of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $32 million for projects that will help build facilities that produce rare earth elements and other critical minerals and materials from domestic coal-based resources.

Creating a net-zero carbon emissions power sector and economy is an immense endeavor that requires a host of intricate technologies and applications, and the CO2-Locate database is a centralized platform that allows users to quickly and accurately obtain the data they need.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced 16 projects across 14 states are set to receive $23.4 million to provide locally-tailored technical assistance and enhanced stakeholder engagement around carbon management technologies. The projects, housed at both universities and private sector companies, aim to connect carbon management developers with local communities to foster collaboration and education toward the advancement of commercial deployment of carbon capture, transport, and storage technologies across the United States.

NETL researchers have developed a biocatalyst with 99% efficiency that can convert carbon dioxide (CO2), a waste product of fossil energy industries that warms the planet and causes climate change, into acetate — an ingredient used in many products like cleaning supplies, textiles, and as a potential feedstock for biofuels.