What are Critical Minerals?
Critical Energy Minerals (CEMs) include materials like rare earth elements and battery metals (e.g., Li, Co, and Ni), and are important for the tech industry and green economy. With the fast-growing demands for energy security, sustainability, and decarbonization, CEMs are facing tremendous challenges with high demand, low domestic resources/production, and heavy reliance on imports.
The major challenges and opportunities with CEMs are to discover new/alternative resources, establish and diversify supply chains, develop substitutes, and improve reuse and recycling. In addition, given the rising concerns on sustainability, climate change, and energy equity, technology development must consider environmental impacts, carbon emission, community feedback, and energy justice.
For more information and a list of CEMs from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit the USGS CEM list here.
The goals of CCMS
The Center for Critical Mineral Solutions (CCMS) provides an interdisciplinary center where critical energy minerals research and solutions can convergence, and sets the stage for regional collaboration and development. Our mission is to develop decarbonized solutions and train the future workforce for sustainable CEM production, which will be achieved through three interwoven pillars.