Highlights
- DOE seeks stakeholder input on energy materials supply chains, risks, and methodology by July 25, 2025.
- Critical materials like Lithium, Nickel, and Rare Earth Elements face high supply risks for clean energy technologies.
- Assessment will inform federal policy, spending, and strategy across clean energy, defense, and semiconductor sectors.
Stakeholders Invited to Weigh in on Supply Chain, Market Risks, and Methodology by July 25
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched its public comment period for the upcoming Energy Critical Materials Assessment, inviting input from stakeholders across the energy and industrial spectrum. This triennial review evaluates materials vital to the energy transition, and how vulnerable their supply chains may be between 2025 and 2035.
The DOE urges industry leaders, researchers, and concerned citizens to submit feedback on a range of topics: energy technologies of interest, materials at risk, domestic industrial bottlenecks, market dynamics, and methodology behind material prioritization. Submissions are due by 5:00 PM ET on July 25, 2025.
Understanding the Stakes: Criticality and Supply Risk
An accompanying DOE chart highlights the materials deemed Critical, Near Critical, or Not Critical, based on both supply risk and importance to energy systems. Notably:
- Critical (High Risk/High Importance): Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Graphite, and key Rare Earth Elements (REEs) like Neodymium, Dysprosium, and Praseodymium are flagged in red, underpinning EV batteries, wind turbines, and permanent magnets.
- Near Critical: Uranium, Aluminum, and Fluorine hover in orange zones, suggesting rising demand but with some buffer in supply.
- Not Critical (Green Zone): Elements such as phosphorus and Manganese show lower strategic urgency for the energy transition.
The DOE Critical Materials List, a subset of the broader DOE Critical Minerals List, is a key outcome of this assessment. However, DOE officials emphasize the goal is to “get materials off the list” by investing in domestic production, recycling, and substitution technologies.
Why It Matters
This assessment underpins billions of dollars in federal spending across the clean energy, defense, and semiconductor sectors. It informs policy on tariffs, grants, tax incentives, and foreign investment reviews, particularly in the context of escalating geopolitical risk.
DOE’s open invitation is an opportunity to shape future industrial policy, signal material gaps, and ensure a resilient, sovereign supply chain.
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