Request for Information (RFI)-Future Innovation needs for Responsible Mining of Critical Minerals (FIRM-CM)

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only. This RFI is not accepting applications for financial assistance. The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future programs. The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit input for potential future ARPA-E research programs focused on innovative technologies and approaches for resource exploration, discovery, appraisal, mining, and processing of critical minerals. Goals of the potential programs could include: Increased recovery rates of critical minerals; Minimized hazardous mine tailings; Reduced energy consumption from any/all stages of mineral development; Minimal carbon emissions from any/all stages of mineral development; Minimal aquifer and hydrological disturbance on the mining sites; Rapid data development/use for permitting and mine planning from governments and local communities; Autonomous operation in remote environments; and Increased access to deeper, more diffuse, hotter, lower grade resources. The domestic supply of critical minerals in the United States (U.S.) has been a national security and economic concern since the U.S. Critical Minerals Stockpiling Act was enacted in 1939. However, the capacity for U.S. mineral resource exploration and mining has been significantly reduced over the last several decades and the U.S. has become increasingly dependent on the international supply of critical minerals. Critical minerals such as nickel, copper, cobalt, lithium, rare earth elements, and platinum-group elements are key ingredients in many advanced technologies. Uses for these critical metals include computers and information services, defense industry applications, batteries for electric vehicles, and other clean energy industry technologies. The transition from fossil fuels to clean energy will depend on the extensive supplies of critical minerals for the products related to energy production, storage, and use. As a result, the annual demand for critical minerals is increasing rapidly. For example, nickel demand from the electric vehicle sector is expected to grow globally from 92 kilotons in 2020 to 2.6 megatons in 2040. With the combination of high demand due to rapid technological advancements and uncertain supply due to geopolitical risks, the U.S. domestic mineral supply is increasingly insufficient to support the transition from fossil fuels to renewable, clean energy sources. Further exacerbating the issue is that the current global mineral supply cannot support the U.S. transition to 100% electrification. Consequently, to meet the supply and demand, the U.S. could look towards the extraction of critical minerals from both conventional and unconventional resources. To view the RFI in its entirety, please visit https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov.