US Department of Energy Includes Copper in the List of Critical Minerals
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) officially added copper to its list of critical materials last week, marking the first time a U.S. government agency has included copper on one of its official “critical” lists. like the European Union, Japan, India, Canada and China.
The Critical Materials Assessment 2023, which rated materials based on their criticality to global clean energy technology supply chains, focuses on key materials at high risk of supply disruption that are part of integral part of clean energy technologies.
The DOE Critical Materials List will inform eligibility for tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act 48C.
The final list includes aluminum, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, electrical steel, fluorine, gallium, iridium, lithium, magnesium, natural graphite, neodymium, nickel, platinum , praseodymium, terbium, silicon and silicon carbide.
“As our nation continues the transition to a clean energy economy, it is our responsibility to anticipate the supply chains of critical materials needed to manufacture our generation, transmission, storage and power technologies.
most promising clean energy end uses, including solar panels, wind turbines, energy electronics, lighting and electric vehicles,” said Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Efficiency Energy and Renewable Energy from the DOE in the press release.
Moreno said identifying and mitigating the criticality of materials now will ensure that a clean energy future is possible “for decades to come.”
“The Copper Development Association (CDA) commends the DOE for its thoughtful and forward-thinking analysis that resulted in the inclusion of copper on the list of critical materials,” CDA CEO Andrew Kireta, Jr. said in a statement. separate statement.
“Copper is a major contributor to U.S. economic and national security, and with copper demand forecast to double by 2035, driven primarily by clean energy transition, electrification and infrastructure plans drinking water.
The nation would be defenseless without electricity and copper’s vital role in its production, transmission and distribution.
The inclusion on the list of critical materials reflects the reality that copper demand projections will necessitate increased domestic production, CDA noted.
