Funding will target extraction of critical minerals from e-scrap, R&D to reduce mineral demand and workforce training, among other initiatives. | Tada Images/Shutterstock
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has unveiled four new funding opportunities to expand domestic production and recycling of critical minerals to strengthen the supply chains for clean-energy technologies.
The initiatives intend to unlock hundreds of millions of dollars in grants, loans and cooperative agreements aimed at scaling US processing of rare earth elements and other materials essential for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems and advanced electronics.
Funding will target extracting critical minerals from e-scrap, building domestic refining plants, supporting R&D to reduce mineral demand and workforce training as well as regional initiatives to enhance knowledge of supply chains.
Universities, private firms and public-private partnerships will be eligible to apply, with application guidelines and deadlines expected to be posted in the coming weeks.
The announcement follows other industry-driven calls for federal action.
Policy backdrop
In mid-August, the Recycled Materials Association urged the DOE to invest more directly in the e-scrap recycling sector as part of its 2026 Energy Critical Materials Assessment. Officials said the new funding builds on earlier investments in battery recycling and rare-earth magnet recovery, expanding support to a wider range of critical inputs with stronger ties to clean energy deployment.
“These initiatives are designed to create secure, resilient supply chains for the technologies that will define our energy future,” Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.
She added that scaling recycling infrastructure is crucial to reducing reliance on imports from countries like China that dominate mineral production.
The US currently recycles only a small share of its end-of-life electronics, leaving a large potential supply of critical minerals untapped, according to the agency.
Officials said the new funding is designed to help recyclers, manufacturers and technology developers translate pilot projects into commercial operations.
The initiative builds on the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided billions for mineral and battery-related programs. The new opportunities align with that legislation’s goals while advancing the administration’s net-zero emissions targets, according to the DOE.
Solicitation documents will be published in late August on the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website, with applications to be submitted via the federal grants portal.
Initial awards could start going out in early 2026, depending on application volume and review timelines.