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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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DOE OSTI2026

Advanced Computing Annual Report 2025 [Slides]

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) continued to advance computing as a cornerstone of energy innovation, expanding the Kestrel high-performance computing (HPC) system to 56 peak petaflops. This growth strengthened Kestrel's role as a national asset for applied energy research, enabling larger, more complex simulations and accelerating the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) methods across the laboratory's computing portfolio. In FY 2025, AI was a component of most projects running on Kestrel, underscoring its central role in modern energy science and engineering. Kestrel supported a broad and diverse set of 507 modeling and simulation projects, engaging 855 researchers across the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) portfolio and other offices, as well as partners from industry, academia, and utilities. These efforts span critical materials discovery, energy systems modeling, grid modernization, advanced manufacturing, and other areas essential to strengthening U.S. energy security and competitiveness. Together, these collaborations produced 708 technical outputs, including 293 peer-reviewed publications, reflecting both the depth and impact of the science enabled by NLR's computing capabilities. This year's report highlights the growing importance and benefit of AI throughout NLR's research programs and features work by early career researchers who are helping shape the future of computing-enabled energy innovation. Explore these sections and the many project successes captured in the pages that follow.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2026

2024 Bioenergy Industry Status Report

This report provides a snapshot of the bioenergy industry status at the end of 2024. The report compliments other annual market reports from the Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) offices and is supported by DOE'sOffice of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation's Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office. The 2024 Bioenergy Industry Status Report focuses on past year data covering multiple dimensions of the bioenergy industry and does not attempt to make future market projections. There report covers production, consumption, plants, trade, and end-use for all biofuels, biopower, and biobased products where data is available. The report provides a balanced and unbiased assessment of the industry and associated markets. It is openly available to the public and is intended to complement other industry reports with a focus on DOE stakeholder needs.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Summer 2025 Solar Industry Update [Slides]

Each quarter, NREL conducts the Quarterly Solar Industry Update, a presentation of technical trends within the solar industry. Each presentation focuses on global and U.S. supply and demand, module and system price, investment trends and business models, and updates on U.S. government programs supporting the solar industry.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

Revitalizing Canton City Schools: A Sustainable and Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency Plan

The primary objective of this project was to focus on conducting the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Level 2 Energy Audits of all the schools/school facilities in the portfolio, and on developing a comprehensive Strategic Plan for implementing energy improvements. The overall aim of budget period 1 (BP1) was to implement Energy Audits and the Strategic Plan to provide a clear pathway to prioritize energy improvements as well as allow the district to access private sector funding (if needed) and/or tax credits and realize high-impact health and safety benefits for Budget Period 2.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Advanced Mooring Lines for Marine Energy Workshop – Summary Report

This report summarizes the outcomes of the virtual Advanced Mooring Lines for Marine Energy Workshop. The workshop convened experts from industry, academia, and national laboratories to identify key challenges associated with the deployment of synthetic mooring lines for marine energy applications. Discussions focused on four technical areas—materials, failure and degradation, testing, and modeling. Despite the significant promise of leveraging synthetic mooring systems for marine energy applications, discussion highlighted broader research and development needed to address the lack of validated long-term performance data, insufficient structural health monitoring frameworks, limited large-scale testing capabilities, and gaps in predictive modeling. Overall, the workshop emphasized the importance of coordinated research and development efforts to advance reliable, durable, and cost-effective synthetic mooring solutions for marine energy applications.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2025

"Mining" for Critical Minerals: Critical Minerals from Fossil Energy Waste Byproducts

NETL researcher Mengling Stuckman is an invited speaker for the panel discussion session of "Mining for Critical Minerals" at the Marcellus Shale Coalition event, "Shale 2.0: Learn the Facts about Upstream, Midstream and Downstream". Recent studies from DOE have shown that produced water and drill cuttings from the development of unconventional shale in Appalachia has a significant source of valuable critical minerals and will support bolstering America's supply chain security, putting Pennsylvania in a unique position to capitalize. The panel discussion facilitates obtaining an overview of pipeline capacity needs, downstream users for natural gas and effectively educating and engaging the public relevant to the Marcellus Shale community. The event also offers opportunities for local oil and gas industries, water and waste management companies to work with NETL and participate in FECM’s Critical Mineral program. Industrial feedbacks and participation as outcomes of this invited talk will accelerate the technology and knowledge transfer for the DOE’s Critical Mineral program and for DOE’s mission to unleash American Energy and lead in energy innovation.

critical minerals↗
DOE OSTI2026

Innovations Driven by Advanced Characterization to Strategize Critical Mineral Production and Beneficial Reuse from Fossil Energy Waste

Critical minerals (CM), such as rare earth elements (REE), cobalt, nickel, and lithium, have important uses in modern electronics and advanced manufacturing, yet are vulnerable to potential supply chain disruptions. Relatively abundant and readily available fossil energy (FE) wastes, such as coal combustion ash, acid mine drainage (AMD) and treatment solids (AMD solids), and Oil and Gas (O&G) drilling wastes (drill cuttings and produced waters) are under consideration as CM feedstocks. The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has studied CM resources for various FE wastes as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s mission of bolstering the domestic CM supply, and makes the data available to the public on EDX at sites such as the NEWTS group. Advanced characterization utilizing synchrotron x-ray techniques coupled with laboratory extractions has been performed to identify CM hosting phases in these FE wastes to inform CM recoverability mechanisms. Novel methods to selectively recover CMs while co-producing other valuable byproducts have been developed. Successful examples discussed here include: (1) The identification of REE/Co/Ni/Sc binding and hosting phases in select FE waste (coal combustion ash and AMD solids), resulting in the development of a patented CM step-extraction process, (2) coupled production of functional sorbents from these extraction wastes and for CM recovery. A pilot-scale testing to evaluate the patent’s technical feasibility for extracting REE from coal ash on a barrel scale has been successfully performed. Additionally, (3) evaluation and measurements of brine geochemistry from U.S. O&G produced waters has informed a high Li recovery potential from Marcellus Shale produced water. NETL researchers have been developing tailored pre-treatment processes, an innovative and highly durable lithium sorbent, and geochemical model guided precipitation to accelerate Li production from the Marcellus Shale produced waters. These innovations driven by characterization are integral for maximizing and advancing the potential for CM recovery while offsetting the cost and environmental footprint for FE waste management.

critical mineral processing↗
DOE OSTI2026

Evaluation of coal-associated sediments, wastes, and AMD sludge in the Southern Appalachian Basin as feedstock materials for REE and Li recovery

Critical minerals (CM) such as rare earth elements (REE+) and Lithium (Li) are essential to technological innovation, energy transitions, global economic and defense security, necessitating the search for unconventional resources and efficient recovery methods to avert supply chain disruptions. Here, this study evaluates coal-associated sediments (underclay and roof rock) and wastes from the Pennsylvanian Pottsville Formation of the Southern Appalachian Basin (SAB) as potential feedstocks for CM recovery. A total of 34 samples (15 underclays, 12 roof rocks, 5 Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) sludges, and 2 coal mining wastes) were characterized using XRD, XRF, ICP-MS, and μ-XRF analytical methods. The REE+ and Li concentrations of these materials ranged from 46.8 to 334.4 ppm and from 11.1 to 519 ppm, respectively, with one underclay sample (Hendrix 3456) yielding the highest values for both. Bulk mineralogy for all samples was dominated by aluminosilicate clay phases, particularly illite and kaolinite. All samples exhibited REY def, rel% values >26% and C outl indices that ranged from 0.69 to 0.94, classifying their REE ore potential as Category II (Promising) as defined by Seredin and Dai (2012). Extractability tests (EPA method 3051 A) yielded low REE+ and Li recoveries, with maximum values of 3.3% and 3.6%, respectively, suggesting associations with resistant minerals like clay and phosphates. Elemental mapping indicates that REE+ is associated with phosphate, whereas statistical analysis suggests that REE+ are associated with aluminosilicates, suggesting heterogeneous associations or minimal phosphate contribution. Li also correlated positively with Al 2 O 3 , indicating an aluminosilicate host. This study highlights the potential of coal-associated sediments in the SAB.

Clay minerals↗
DOE OSTI2025

Biotechnological solutions for critical mineral recovery from unconventional feedstocks

Secure and sustainable metal recovery from unconventional feedstocks is needed to meet the mineral demands of energy, defense, and electronic technologies. Here, we highlight the potential to leverage nature’s ability to extract and differentiate metal ions in biotechnologies that could become the next generation of mining and refining. We describe bulk and trace processes and then discuss the advances and opportunities of two key bioprocesses: microbially mediated solubilization of metal ions from solid matrices (termed ‘bioleaching’) and bio-based separation of solubilized ions via selective adsorption to proteins. Both biotechnologies have advantages such as reduced energy input for leaching low-grade feedstocks and reduced organic solvent demand for separating ions with similar physiochemical properties but require more development for industrial scale recovery from unconventional feedstocks. Innovation in biological science and engineering may bring timely solutions to key challenges toward recovering critical minerals from unconventional feedstocks.

organic↗
DOE OSTI2024

Evolve CAPP Final Report

The Evolve Central Appalachia (Evolve CAPP) project is investigating the rare earth and critical mineral resource potential of the Central Appalachian basin, spanning Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This initiative aims to advance clean energy technologies, strengthen sustainable industries critical to national security, and foster economic growth through downstream value-added industries. Innovative policy incentives, stakeholder collaboration, and responsible sourcing practices are identified as pivotal to overcoming barriers. The project seeks to align environmental stewardship with economic imperatives. These efforts aim to position the Central Appalachian region as a leader in responsible critical mineral sourcing, contributing to a resilient, secure, and future-ready supply chain for critical minerals.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2024

US critical materials strategy: The importance of innovation in obtaining supply chain security

Critical raw materials (CRMs) and/or critical minerals and materials (CMMs) are metals, metal groups, and non-metallic minerals essential for the many modern technologies, including wind turbine, electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Different countries have slightly different metrics for determining criticality. However, broadly speaking, the European Union (EU) and United States (US)both define them as materials that reach or exceed thresholds for both economic importance and supply risk. Furthermore, both organizations have implemented instruments, such as the EU's 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act and the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Critical Minerals and Materials Strategy, to facilitate research and development of CRM/CMM ranging from mineral deposit development to geometallurgy to separations to advanced manufacturing. This talk is aimed at an EU audience to explain the DOE CMM strategy and how it compares to the steps taken by the EU to facilitate progress. Furthermore, this talk takes a geology-centric approach on the challenges geoscientists face and how their roles may change in the future.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advanced Characterization to Inform Sustainable Recovery of Critical Minerals from Fossil Energy Waste Feedstocks

Rare earth elements (REE) and other critical minerals (CM, e.g., Co, Li) have important uses in green energy and modern technologies, yet are vulnerable to potential supply chain disruptions. One potential domestic source of CM is fossil energy wastes, such as acid mine drainage (AMD) and treatment solids (AMD solids), coal combustion ash, and Oil and Gas (O&G) drilling wastes (drill cuttings and produced waters). CM recovery from these waste feedstocks is promising due to their abundances and fast availability as waste products. On the other hand, the CM occurrence in these wastes is in small quantities compared to traditional ore bodies. Thus, novel and strategic separation and extraction processes are under exploration. Researchers at DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) are collecting and analyzing CM data for aforementioned fossil energy wastes, and utilizing advanced geochemical characterization (e.g., synchrotron microprobe and sequential extraction) to understand the CM speciation and binding environments in these materials to better inform sustainable and effective recovery. Successful examples discussed in this talk include: (1) the discovery of easily mobile REE phases in Ca-rich coal combustion ash and developing a patented REE recovery process from Ca-rich Powder River Basin coal ash; (2) the successful identification of REE/Co/Ni/Zn hosting phases in acid mine drainage treatment solids (AMD solids) with diverse chemical composition (Al, Mn, or Fe-rich) informing the sequential recovery of different REE/CMs from AMD solids; (3) the recovery potential of Li and other CMs in O&G produced waters and drill cuttings. The innovations driven by characterization have the potential to offset the cost of waste management and wastewater treatments while reducing the cost and environmental footprint of CM extraction.

characterization and extraction↗
DOE OSTI2025

Dithionite Inhibits Iron(III) (Hydr)oxide Formation during Olivine Dissolution Advancing Simultaneous CO 2 Mineralization and Nickel Recovery

Increasing CO 2 concentration poses significant global challenges, impacting both environmental and human health. As we strive for a carbon-neutral energy technology transition, the demand for critical elements (e.g., nickel and cobalt) continues to increase, while high-grade ores are depleting. Combining CO 2 mineralization with the recovery of critical elements from low-grade ores offers an innovative solution. Olivine, a magnesium-rich ultramafic with trace amounts of critical elements, is a promising mineral; however, its impurities, such as iron (Fe(III)), hinder the dissolution of Ni and Mg from olivine, reducing its carbonation and critical element recovery. Here, to address this challenge, this study examined Ni dissolution from San Carlos olivine at high temperatures and high CO 2 pressure. We found that iron(III) (hydr)oxide layers impeded olivine dissolution; however, with sodium dithionite (Na 2 S 2 O 4 ), a reducing agent, olivine dissolution is significantly improved by preventing iron(III) (hydr)oxide formation. With Na 2 S 2 O 4 , within 24 h, Mg and Ni dissolution from olivine increased 2.85-fold and 2.66-fold, respectively, compared to samples without Na 2 S 2 O 4 . After seven cycles, with solutions replaced every 24 h, 98.9% of the total Mg and 84.6% of the total Ni were recovered. This approach enhances olivine’s CO 2 mineralization and improves the sustainability of critical element supply.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Chelation ion chromatography as an automated, and cost-effective analytical technique for REE determination: method development and applications

Rare earth elements (REEs), as critical minerals, have important uses in modern energy and technologies, yet are vulnerable to potential supply chain disruptions. To establish domestic REE supply chain, efficient REE detection methods for resource characterization and mineral processing will be needed to accelerate innovations for domestic REE recovery. This study developed a rapid, novel, and cost-effective for REE detection method using ion chromatography (IC) for aqueous samples. Various REE-targeted eluent gradients and post-column agent compositions were tested on the chelation ion chromatography (CIC) with UV-vis detector for optimal separation and quantification of REEs within approximately 20 min. The single-channel pump to deliver the post-column solution to UV-vis detector was replaced with a 4-channel gradient pump, to increase operation and maintenance efficiencies. After method optimization, resulting calibration curves for more than ten REEs achieved high coefficients of determination (R2>0.999) and low relatively standard deviations (below 3.24%), demonstrating sub-ppm level detection limits (0.0897 to 0.1149 mg/L). The reliability of the CIC method was validated through comparison with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), showing strong agreement in REE recovery from certified standards. The impact of metal ions and salts on REE recovery using CIC was also systematically investigated. CIC consistently exhibited reliable performance in the presence of salt solutions such as NaCl and Na₂SO₄ (up to 10,000 mg/L). Our study also found the presence of high concentrations of Al ions (at 10,000 mg/L) significantly influenced REE determination, and elevated concentrations of Ca ions affected the recovery of specific REEs, including La, Ce, and Pr. The CIC method was further tested on REE-containing eluents from solvent extraction tests out of fly ash leachates. REE detection from these real processing fluids were reported to achieve 90% to 100% recovery rate from our IC method, compared to ICP-MS results. This study underscores the potential of CIC as a reliable and efficient alternative for REE determination in complex matrices. It also highlights the importance of minimizing select interfering metal ions in solutions to ensure accurate results. The REE CIC method presents a promising, low-maintenance, salt-tolerant, and cost-effective alternative to traditional analytical methods for REE analysis.

detection of rare earth elements (REE)↗
DOE OSTI2025

EDX ClaiMM

EDX ClaiMM is a centralized data & analytical platform designed to revolutionize U.S. critical minerals and materials (CMM) activities. By providing a robust digital infrastructure, ClaiMM will accelerate the combination, leveraging, and rapid utilization of vital data, advanced tools, and cutting-edge research advancements in CMM. This adaptive digital research hub connects the CMM community to essential knowledge products and offers access to interoperable datasets, databases, models, software, and tools from the National Energy Technology’s (NETL’s) Energy Data eXchange (EDX) and other authoritative sources, serving both public and private sectors. EDX ClaiMM delivers AI-informed solutions to address fundamental knowledge gaps and fosters the innovation of new techniques for enhanced characterization and recovery of CMMs within the U.S. By leveraging cloud-hosted, scalable digital infrastructure, ClaiMM meets public–private applied energy needs. It equips the CMM community with priority digital resources that harness on-site and cloud compute capabilities, enabling big data storage, advanced processing, analytics, and visualization.

Critical Materials; Critical Minerals; Rare Earth ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Advancing Geothermal Research: Fiscal Year 2024 Accomplishments Report

Geothermal resources have delivered renewable electricity for more than 100 years, and renewable heat for far longer, but recent research and advancements have shown that geothermal is more than a 24/7 clean energy source. With the ability to also provide cooling and storage - plus the potential to access critical minerals, capture and sequester carbon, produce green hydrogen, and more - geothermal technologies and resources are emerging as key solutions to the climate crisis. In fiscal year 2024 (FY24), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) broadened its research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) portfolio and partnerships with exciting innovations such as next-generation geothermal technologies for power, geothermal energy networks for heating and cooling, subsurface thermal energy storage, well repurposing, and more. In support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office's (GTO) mission to increase geothermal energy deployment through research, development, and demonstration of innovative technologies that enhance exploration and production, NREL led impactful research in geothermal technologies and resources, market acceleration, and grid integration while also demonstrating leadership in the sector and increasing stakeholder engagement and outreach efforts.

annual report↗
DOE OSTI2026

Enhanced Recovery of Critical Minerals and Geological Hydrogen in The Mine of the Future

invited perspective article: The rapid demand for critical minerals (CMs) and hydrogen (H2) necessitates innovative solutions beyond conventional mining. This study explores enhanced mineral recovery (EMR) and geological hydrogen production (GeoH2) by leveraging the Earth’s subsurface as a reactive platform. Using ultramafic rocks and engineered fluids, the approach simultaneously mobilizes critical resources and produces H2 through natural processes like serpentinization. This paradigm offers a transformative pathway to secure essential materials and diversify energy resources, setting a foundation for the Terrestrial Mine of the Future

Yan, Keju↗