Highlights

• Lawrence Technological University leads a $2.3 million state-funded initiative to use AI for extracting critical minerals from used batteries.
• The project seeks to reduce battery waste and diversify critical mineral sources away from China's current global processing dominance.
• Michigan's efforts represent a strategic approach to addressing national supply chain challenges in battery mineral recovery.

The primary premise of a recent local news report is Michigan’s initiative to develop AI-powered technologies for extracting critical minerals from old batteries. This effort is led by Lawrence Technological University (opens in a new tab), supported by a $2.3 million state grant, the largest among three recent awards by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The ultimate goal is to reduce battery waste in landfills and create a more sustainable domestic supply chain for lithium, nickel, and cobalt, key materials in battery production.

The goals are ambitious but plausible given the pressing need to diversify critical mineral sources away from China, which dominates over 90% of global processing for these materials. However, the initiative’s realism depends heavily on advancing AI technology to efficiently identify and process battery components at scale. Additionally, achieving cost-effective operations to compete with mining and global recycling leaders presents a significant challenge. The mention of one domestic nickel mine versus the estimated need for 72 mines highlights the urgency but also underscores the scale of the gap to be bridged.

What is missing from this report is a detailed roadmap for scaling these innovations into industrial processes. The lack of clarity on commercialization strategies, partnerships with private industry, and metrics for measuring success leaves questions about how quickly these advancements can transition from research to impact. Furthermore, there’s no mention of how the project will address potential regulatory, logistical, or environmental hurdles involved in processing and recycling large quantities of batteries.

The inclusion of smaller but related initiatives at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University hints at a broader collaborative approach within the state but does not sufficiently explain how these efforts will integrate into a cohesive strategy. While promising, Michigan's initiatives require substantial coordination, investment, and private-sector involvement to meet the ambitious targets outlined and make a measurable impact on critical mineral recovery and the national supply chain.

See the piece at Michigan Live (opens in a new tab).