FOA-Carbon
Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative for United States
(U.S.) Basins (DE-FOA-0002364); January 5, 2021
Agency
Description
The
vision of the Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM)
Initiative for U.S. Basins is to catalyze regional economic growth and job
creation by realizing the full potential value of natural resources, such as
coal, across basins throughout the U.S. It has been designed to address the
upstream and midstream critical minerals supply chain and downstream
manufacturing of high-value, nonfuel, carbon-based products, to accelerate the
realization of full potential for carbon ores and critical minerals within the
U.S basins.
To
realize this vision, the CORE-CM Initiative has been designed as a multi-year
effort that will accomplish the following six objectives over three phases of
implementation:
1.
Basinal Assessment of CORE-CM Resources:
CORE-CM projects will complete a basinal
assessment and characterization of contained REE and CM. The assessment will
include acquiring existing and new field characterization data, development of
analytical geological models, identification of information gaps, and the
development and implementation of R&D plans to fill those gaps. Resource
assessments should include, but not be limited to: (1) coal sediments
(sedimentary layers associated with coal beds), (2) coal ash (ponded materials;
combustion byproducts), (3) refuse (coal; other ores), (4) acid mine drainage
(coal; other ores), and (5) other basin-specific resources that could enhance
basin-specific economics.
2.
Basinal Strategies for Reuse of Waste
Streams: CORE-CM projects will assess regional waste streams (including
wastes and by-products associated with CORE-CM mining) that could be reused as
fuels, feedstocks, or consumables in processes that
produce REE, CM and/or high-value, nonfuel, carbon-based products. The
assessment will include acquiring existing data, identification of information
gaps, development and implementation of R&D plans to fill those gaps and
enable future projects within the region. The strategies for reuse of waste
streams should identify the challenges and potential solutions needed to realize
the above and/or alternate waste stream reuse
opportunities.
3.
Basinal Strategies for Infrastructure,
Industries and Businesses: CORE-CM projects will assess regional
infrastructure, industries and businesses and formulate strategies to integrate
and leverage those regional attributes to spur economic growth by utilizing the
basin’s CORE-CM resources as well as other minerals and waste streams. Projects
will also identify regional infrastructure needs, economic challenges and supply
chain gaps that must be addressed to successfully use those CORE-CM strategies
to promote economic growth and create jobs.
4.
Technology Assessment, Development and Field Testing: CORE-CM projects
will assess technology gaps across the full CORE-CM value chains for their
basins, including: (1) innovative and sustainable mining techniques for coal and
other basinal minerals; (2) processes to separate
and purify REE and CM; and (3) technologies to incorporate coal-derived carbon,
REE and CM into value-added intermediate and end-use products. Both conventional
and innovative products should be considered. Projects will also formulate and
implement research strategies to develop CORE-CM technologies to fill the
identified technology gaps and to field test the technologies to enable
commercialization.
5.
Technology Innovation Centers: CORE-CM projects will formulate plans for
technology innovation centers that will be developed and operated by
basin-specific public-private partnerships. The technology innovation centers
will provide a centralized and consistent platform to develop and validate
CORE-CM technologies at laboratory-scale, including technologies that utilize
advanced manufacturing techniques.
6.
Stakeholder Outreach and Education: CORE-CM projects will formulate and
implement plans for stakeholder outreach and education that are necessary to
support CORE-CM economic development activities. Plans will include the
development of best practices as well as education and training for technicians,
middle-skills workers, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) professionals. Stakeholder outreach should include exploring potential
collaborations with other R&D projects funded by DOE that are relevant to
the CORE-CM Initiative, especially if those projects have a nexus with the basin
of interest. Collaborations between CORE-CM projects and other DOE-funded
projects could expedite technology transfer and commercialization.
It
is anticipated that recipients funded by DOE under this FOA will form and manage
basin-specific coalitions to accomplish these activities. DOE discourages use of
exclusive agreements, so that subrecipients and
contractors proposed in financial assistance applications that are not selected
for award will have flexibility to participate on selected projects under
mutually beneficial terms. Coalitions are strongly encouraged to integrate
expertise and stakeholders across the entire CORECM value chain for their
basins, including but not limited to, resource characterization, mining, mineral
processing, REE-CM separation and purification, and manufacturing intermediate
and end-use products.
There
is a 20% minimum non-Federal cost share requirement.
Announcement
Number:
DE-FOA-0002364
Closing
Date:
January
5, 2021
Link
to Full Announcement
https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=329166
Contact
Information
Nicholas
J. Anderson
412-386-5536