Energy
Friday, November 24th, 2023 3:09 pm EDT
Key Points
- Coal’s Controversial Role: Coal, once pivotal in powering the Industrial Revolution, is now a contentious issue due to its environmental impact. Critics, including organizations like Greenpeace and prominent figures such as the UN Secretary General, emphasize the need to phase out coal, viewing it as the dirtiest and most polluting form of energy production.
- Unconventional Uses of Coal: Amidst the global debate on coal, there is a paradoxical aspect emerging in discussions about its role in a sustainable future. Ramaco Resources, a U.S. firm, has explored unconventional uses of coal by investigating rare earth elements (REEs) found in its Wyoming mines. This includes a technical assessment indicating a significant deposit of REEs, potentially strategic in reducing dependence on China, a dominant force in rare earth supply.
- Diverse Approaches to Sustainability: Beyond Wyoming, other regions in the U.S. are exploring coal and rare earth extraction, emphasizing the potential for innovative methods. Research initiatives in West Virginia and Pennsylvania aim to extract rare earth elements and critical minerals from coal waste. Additionally, efforts in the UK involve repurposing old coal mines for sustainable purposes, such as providing decarbonized heating. The article also highlights promising developments in by-products from alternative energy sources, such as geothermal power generation producing lithium for electric car batteries. However, despite these positive developments, coal continues to play a significant role in global electricity generation. The article concludes with cautious optimism about the potential for more discoveries similar to the unconventional REE deposit in Wyoming.
From Pennsylvania to the north of England, coal mines, once instrumental in powering the Industrial Revolution, are now at the center of a complex global debate. Critics highlight coal’s detrimental impact on the environment, leading to calls for its phase-out. However, amidst this, discussions about coal’s potential role in a more sustainable future have emerged, particularly concerning rare earth elements (REEs) found in coal mines.
In May, U.S. firm Ramaco Resources, in collaboration with mining consultancy Weir International and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, revealed significant findings regarding REEs at one of its Wyoming mines. The research suggested the presence of perhaps the largest unconventional deposit of REEs discovered in the United States. This discovery becomes crucial as China dominates the supply and refining of rare earths, and unconventional deposits could offer strategic advantages.
Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins explained that the company’s initial intention was to operate the site as a thermal coal proposition. However, a shift in the industry landscape prompted them to explore alternative uses for coal. The REEs at the Brook Mine in Wyoming are classified as unconventional, mainly found in clay strata above and below the coal seams, making them economically and environmentally viable for surface mining and processing.
This discovery is not isolated, as other parts of the U.S., like West Virginia and Pennsylvania, are also exploring coal and rare earth extraction. Research initiatives focus on developing methods to extract rare earth elements and critical minerals from coal waste, aiming to repurpose old coal mines for sustainable purposes.
In the UK, efforts are underway to repurpose old coal mines for decarbonized heating. Geothermal Engineering Limited in southwest England has also highlighted the potential of geothermal power generation to produce lithium as a by-product, sufficient for approximately 250,000 electric car batteries per year.
While coal continues to contribute over one-third of global electricity generation, discoveries like those in Wyoming offer a glimmer of hope for a more sustainable future. When asked about the potential for more similar discoveries, Ramaco CEO Randall Atkins expressed cautious optimism, suggesting that logical conclusions might point to further such findings.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/24/rare-earth-discoveries-mean-coal-mines-could-have-a-future.html
