Updates in Mining
DOE to Fund Coal Upgrades & New Infrastructure
The Trump Administration is looking to revitalize the nationโs coal industry by invoking the Defense Production Act to fund nearly $500 million in upgrades and new plant builds. The Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 13 projects, intended to bolster domestic coal mining value chains, support reliable baseload power generation, and strengthen essential energy infrastructure.
U.S. Nuclear Supply Chain Gets a Boost
The U.S. DOE has also announced $17.5 billion in conditional loans to encourage investment in the nationโs nuclear power sector by helping companies to procure difficult-to-obtain components. Nuclear energy continues to draw interest from tech companies looking to power energy-hungry data centers. According to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the support will push the nation closer to its goal of having 10 new large-scale reactors under construction by 2030. Read more from Reuters >>
Canada Seeks Critical Minerals Edge With Additional Funding
Canadaโs Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Tim Hodgson, has announced additional funding of up to $73 million to advance the nationโs critical mineral standing, according to Mining Weekly. Earmarked for 12 projects, the government is hoping to secure a stable supply of materials essential in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and defense applications.
Updates in Fertilizer
Trump Administration Backs Regenerative Agriculture Efforts
Following the signing of an Executive Order from President Trump, the United States Department of Agriculture (UDSA) has issued a final Regenerative Feedstock Rule, creating a voluntary framework that will connect farmers using regenerative farming practices with opportunities in the biofuel supply chain. According to the USDA, the rule, combined with President Trumpโs Executive Order, marks the largest-ever market-driven initiative to reward farmers for utilizing regenerative practices and will ultimately empower farmers, support rural communities, lower input costs, improve farmer profitability, and advance regenerative agriculture.
Updates in Chemical
Collaborative Aims to Accelerate Technology Development
Argonne National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energyโs Office of Critical Materials and Energy Innovation (CMEI) have teamed up to launch the National Science-at-Scale Collaborative. The effort, which will foster collaboration between government, industry, and national laboratories, is intended to help American companies to develop and scale advanced technologies more quickly. The collaborative follows on the heels of an industry roundtable that concluded the nation must expedite development efforts to remain competitive. Read more from Chemical Online >>
Researchers Uncover More Energy-Efficient Approach to Carbon Capture
Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have published findings on a more energy-efficient approach to carbon capture, Carbon Capture Magazine reports. The team used a new class of N-heterocyclic imines (NHI)-based sorbents in electrochemically mediated carbon dioxide capture (EMCC) to capture CO2. Through the NHI-based sorbents, researchers were able to overcome a barrier that had previously limited the use of EMCC systems.
More Sustainable Ammonia From Nitrate?
A more sustainable approach to producing ammonia from nitrate could be on the horizon, according to researchers at McMaster University in Ontario. Through examining the properties of four iron-based catalysts, researchers found that by modifying both electrochemical properties and surface characteristics, they could improve access to active catalytic sites more effectively. If scalable, the process could help to reduce emissions associated with traditional ammonia manufacturing. Findings were published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, and researchers plan to explore the approach under commercial operating conditions next. Read more from Chemical Processing >>
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