This project will research understanding the history of materials criticality, and developing ways to reliably predict the future criticality of minerals in the U.S. economy. Compared to existing analyses, this project will will be more forward looking and focused on identifying what might become critical, more in-depth by focusing on specific supply chains in specific energy-technology areas, and broader by evaluating the environmental and social dimensions of critical materials as well as supply chain risks and resiliency. This will build on enhanced criticality assessment in the U.S. Department of Energy’s America’s Strategy to Secure the Supply Chain for a Robust Clean Energy Transition (https://www.energy.gov/policy/securing-americas-clean-energy-supply-cha…).
