Study finds US coal ash contains $8.4B in rare earth elements

• A study by a team at the University of Texas at Austin found coal ash contains significant amounts of rare earth elements, critical materials used in technology and energy infrastructure. The U.S. currently imports over 80% of its rare earth supply, with 75% coming from China.
• Coal ash in the U.S. may hold $8.4 billion worth of rare earth elements, totaling 11 million tons, which is nearly eight times greater than the country’s current domestic reserves.
• The U.S. Department of Energy is applying the study’s methodology to conduct a national assessment of coal ash resources.

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Waste from coal, one of the world’s most polluting energy sources, could help boost the United States’ supply of critical materials used in modern technology. These findings come according to research from a team at the University of Texas at Austin.

What critical materials can be found in coal waste?

Coal ash is the fine, powdery residue left after coal is burned for fuel. The substance has accumulated in storage sites across the country for decades. However, scientists have discovered that this substance contains significant amounts of rare earth elements.

What are rare earth elements?

Rare earths are essential components in a wide range of technologies, including smartphones, laptops, as well as energy infrastructure, such as solar panels, wind turbines and large-scale batteries.

Currently, the U.S. imports over 80% of its rare earths, with about 75% coming from China. This heavy reliance on foreign suppliers has raised concerns about the supply chain security of these important resources.

What are the benefits of extracting rare earths from coal ash?

The University of Texas at Austin study estimates that coal ash in the U.S. could contain up to 11 million tons of rare earth elements — nearly eight times more than the nation’s domestic reserves.

Researchers believe that around $8.4 billion worth of these elements could be extracted from coal ash that is accessible and recoverable. This is potentially the case for about 70% of the coal ash produced between 1985 and 2021, much of which is stored in landfills, ponds or offsite storage facilities.

Extracting rare earth elements from coal ash could also lessen the need for new mining operations, and therefore mitigate the environmental impacts associated with obtaining them. Traditional mining for these materials produces roughly 2,000 tons of toxic waste for every ton of rare earths acquired.

What happens next?

The U.S. Department of Energy is now applying the study’s methodology to conduct a national assessment of coal ash resources.

Meanwhile, critical materials supplier ElementUSA is positioning pilot equipment and analytical labs near the University of Texas research team’s facilities. The company aims to collaborate on future projects and support student education in this field.