The Elements of Innovation Discovered

Articles from the September 18, 2024 edition


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  • 3D render of Westinghouse’s eVinci microreactor.

    Westinghouse moves eVinci toward testing

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Dec 5, 2024

    Completing the design phase, company prepares microreactor for experimentation for real-world deployment and applications. In a significant step toward advancing clean energy technology, Westinghouse Electric Company has completed the front-end engineering and design phase for its eVinci microreactor, bringing this compact nuclear system closer to real-world testing at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), with the potential to begin as early as 2026. With a legacy spanning over...

  • Mine worker in hard hat, leaning against underground equipment.

    Russian PGM dump leads to US miner layoffs

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Dec 5, 2024

    Sibanye-Stillwater gives notice to hundreds of Montana miners as palladium prices collapse. Sibanye-Stillwater, the only platinum and palladium mine in the United States, gave employees a 60-day notice of upcoming layoffs – blaming a loss of more than $350 million since the beginning of 2023 and plummeting metal pricing due to predatory Russian price dumping. The South Africa-based miner expanded in the U.S. through the purchase of Stillwater Mining Company in 2017 for $2.2 b...

  • Gloved hand sprinkles white lithium powder into a barrel.

    Arkansas taps into its lithium riches

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Oct 2, 2024

    U.S. lithium production is ready to tap a massive aquifer that crosses six southern state lines. Global lithium consumption reached 180,000 metric tons in 2023, according to the United States Geological Survey, but the U.S. produces less than 1% of the world's supply. While most of the world's lithium still comes from countries like Australia, Chile, and China, the future of lithium production in the U.S. is ramping up in California, Nevada, and now Arkansas as companies like...

  • Fully loaded mine haul truck gets electricity transferred from a Cat DET system.

    Cat DET charges mining trucks on the fly

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Oct 2, 2024

    Dynamic Energy Transfer system is a highly customizable and scalable system for charging haul trucks on the move. To meet the immediate and long-term climate goals of mining companies around the globe, Caterpillar Inc. has introduced an innovative solution for charging haul trucks while they are on the move. Much like the range anxiety preventing many drivers from making the switch to electric, concern over loss of productivity while a haul truck is idling at a charger is a...

  • Cover of IDTechEx’ Critical Material Recovery 2025-2045 report.

    EV recycling set to unlock $100 billion value

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Oct 2, 2024

    IDTechEx report examines potential of critical materials recovery from EVs to drive a circular economy by 2045. As the automotive industry shifts toward electrification, recycling end-of-life vehicles is becoming an increasingly important source of critical materials, potentially surpassing traditional mining. According to a recent report by IDTechEx, the recovery of valuable metals from electric vehicle batteries and motors is expected to generate over $100 billion annually...

  • Energy Fuels’ mine workers working underground at uranium mine.

    Energy Fuels to boost U.S. uranium supply

    A.J. Roan, Metal Tech News|Updated Oct 2, 2024

    Uranium exploration at Nichols Ranch reveals strong results, potentially leading to a project restart in 2025. Due to stronger-than-expected results from ongoing exploration, Energy Fuels Inc. is advancing plans to restart its Nichols Ranch uranium project in Wyoming in 2025, enabling the company to bolster domestic uranium production for the clean energy transition. Colorado-based Energy Fuels, which operates the White Mesa Mill in Utah, is already the largest U.S. producer o...

  • Map of Baptiste and other mines and mineral projects in Central BC.

    FPX Nickel evaluates Central BC refinery

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Oct 2, 2024

    Unique nickel mineralization at Baptiste offers an opportunity to significantly expand North America's battery material supply chain. FPX Nickel Corp. is investigating the potential of building a refinery that could make British Columbia a major source of low-carbon nickel needed for stainless steel and lithium-ion batteries. Last year, the company published results from a pre-feasibility study that outlined the economic and engineering parameters for a mine at its Baptiste...

  • GM electric cars, trucks, and SUVs with city skyline in the background.

    Hyundai and GM joint product development

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Oct 2, 2024

    Automakers sign agreement to collaborate on vehicles, supply chain and clean energy tech. Two leading automotive companies have joined forces to target improved efficiencies and increased competitiveness through collaboration along lines of manufacturing and clean energy technologies. General Motors and Hyundai Motor Company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore future collaboration across these key strategic areas as leading global OEMs – leveraging t...

  • Dark-skinned boy with dirty clothes holding up a muddy hand.

    AI connects Li-ion to human rights abuses

    K. Warner, Metal Tech News|Updated Sep 17, 2024

    AI-driven assessment estimates that 75% of the global lithium-ion battery supply chain is tainted by human rights violations. An AI-driven supply chain risk assessment platform by Infyos has discovered evidence that many of the world's largest automotive, energy storage, consumer electronics, and heavy industry companies are using lithium-ion batteries tainted by human rights abuses in one or more areas of their supply chain. Infyos has been working with some of the world's...

  • Closeup of a programmable logic controller with digital display.

    The tech behind rare earths separation

    Shane Lasley, Metal Tech News|Updated Sep 16, 2024

    Computers, programmable logic controllers, and hundreds of sensors automate Ucore's 52-stage RapidSX rare earth separation platform. Behind the secret formulas and innovative methods being developed to separate the tightly interlocked rare earths into individual elements used in a growing array of modern products is another layer of technology that increases the efficiency and reliability of emerging separation technologies. A recent update on the RapidSX separation platform b...