Could Yttrium, Scandium and Cerium Emerge as Critical Materials in America's AI Data Center Power Revolution?

Highlights

• Bloom Energy has deployed 1.8 GW of fuel-cell capacity worldwide, with Oracle contracting up to 2.8 GW and NTT DATA adding 900 MW for AI data centers.
• Scandium-stabilized zirconia conducts oxygen ions 1.5–3 times better than conventional yttria-stabilized zirconia, but durability and cost challenges remain unsolved.
• China's dominance in yttrium, scandium, cerium, and lanthanum processing creates supply-chain exposure for Western solid oxide fuel cell manufacturers.
• The commercial SOFC breakthrough is already underway; the unresolved question is whether advanced rare earth ceramics can lower costs and extend system lifespans.