First Solar Supports Missouri S&T Efforts to Secure Critical Materials Supply Chains
First Solar (FSLR) has established an Endowed Professorship in Critical Energy Materials at Missouri University of Science and Technology's materials science and engineering department. This initiative builds on a decade-long collaboration focusing on critical minerals, particularly tellurium. The endowment aims to strengthen critical supply chains and support research in extractive metallurgy.
The partnership highlights Missouri S&T's expertise in critical minerals research, with the university being home to the Thomas J. O'Keefe Center for Critical Minerals and leading the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub consortium. The collaboration between First Solar and Missouri S&T represents a strategic alignment between industry and academia to address challenges in critical mineral security and support the green energy transition.
First Solar (FSLR) ha istituito una Cattedra Endowed in Materiali Energetici Critici presso il dipartimento di scienza dei materiali e ingegneria della Missouri University of Science and Technology. Questa iniziativa si basa su una collaborazione decennale focalizzata su minerali critici, in particolare sul tellurio. L'endowement mira a rafforzare le catene di approvvigionamento critiche e a sostenere la ricerca nella metallurgia estrattiva.
La partnership evidenzia l'expertise di Missouri S&T nella ricerca sui minerali critici, con l'università che ospita il Thomas J. O'Keefe Center for Critical Minerals e guida il consorzio Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub. La collaborazione tra First Solar e Missouri S&T rappresenta un allineamento strategico tra industria e accademia per affrontare le sfide nella sicurezza dei minerali critici e sostenere la transizione verso l'energia verde.
First Solar (FSLR) ha establecido una Cátedra Endowed en Materiales Energéticos Críticos en el departamento de ciencia de materiales e ingeniería de la Universidad de Ciencia y Tecnología de Missouri. Esta iniciativa se basa en una colaboración de una década centrada en minerales críticos, especialmente el telurio. La dotación tiene como objetivo fortalecer las cadenas de suministro críticas y apoyar la investigación en metalurgia extractiva.
La asociación destaca la experiencia de Missouri S&T en la investigación de minerales críticos, siendo la universidad sede del Thomas J. O'Keefe Center for Critical Minerals y liderando el consorcio Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub. La colaboración entre First Solar y Missouri S&T representa una alineación estratégica entre la industria y la academia para abordar los desafíos en la seguridad de los minerales críticos y apoyar la transición hacia la energía verde.
퍼스트 솔라 (FSLR)는 미주리 과학기술대학교 재료 과학 및 공학부에 '크리티컬 에너지 소재' 기금을 설립했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 특히 텔루륨에 중점을 둔 10년 간의 협력에 기초하고 있습니다. 이 기금은 중요한 공급망을 강화하고 추출 금속 공학에 대한 연구를 지원하는 것을 목표로 합니다.
이 파트너십은 미주리 S&T의 중요한 광물 연구 전문성을 강조하며, 대학은 Thomas J. O'Keefe Center for Critical Minerals의 본거지이자 Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub 컨소시엄을 주도하고 있습니다. 퍼스트 솔라와 미주리 S&T 간의 협력은 산업과 학계 간의 전략적 정렬을 나타내며, 중요한 광물의 안전 문제를 해결하고 녹색 에너지 전환을 지원합니다.
First Solar (FSLR) a établi une Chaire Endowed en Matériaux Énergétiques Critiques au sein du département de science des matériaux et d'ingénierie de l'Université de Science et Technologie du Missouri. Cette initiative repose sur une collaboration de dix ans axée sur les minéraux critiques, en particulier le tellure. Le don vise à renforcer les chaînes d'approvisionnement critiques et à soutenir la recherche en métallurgie extractive.
Le partenariat met en avant l'expertise de Missouri S&T dans la recherche sur les minéraux critiques, l'université accueillant le Thomas J. O'Keefe Center for Critical Minerals et dirigeant le consortium Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub. La collaboration entre First Solar et Missouri S&T représente une synergie stratégique entre l'industrie et le monde académique pour relever les défis liés à la sécurité des minéraux critiques et soutenir la transition vers l'énergie verte.
First Solar (FSLR) hat eine Endowed Professorship für Kritische Energiematerialien an der Materialwissenschaft- und Ingenieurabteilung der Missouri University of Science and Technology eingerichtet. Diese Initiative baut auf einer zehnjährigen Zusammenarbeit auf, die sich auf kritische Mineralien, insbesondere Tellur, konzentriert. Die Stiftungsprofessur hat zum Ziel, kritische Lieferketten zu stärken und die Forschung in der bergbaulichen Metallurgie zu unterstützen.
Die Partnerschaft hebt die Expertise von Missouri S&T in der Forschung über kritische Mineralien hervor, da die Universität das Thomas J. O'Keefe Center for Critical Minerals beherbergt und den Konsortium Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub leitet. Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen First Solar und Missouri S&T stellt eine strategische Ausrichtung zwischen Industrie und Akademie dar, um Herausforderungen in der Sicherheit kritischer Mineralien anzugehen und den Übergang zu grüner Energie zu unterstützen.
- Strategic investment in securing critical materials supply chain, particularly tellurium, essential for solar panel production
- Strengthens long-term academic-industry partnership with Missouri S&T, enhancing research capabilities
- None.
Insights
The establishment of an endowed professorship by First Solar at Missouri S&T represents a strategic investment in critical minerals supply chain security, particularly focusing on tellurium - a vital component in solar panel manufacturing. While this initiative demonstrates First Solar's commitment to strengthening domestic supply chains, the immediate financial impact on the company is minimal relative to its
From a competitive advantage perspective, this partnership could yield long-term benefits by: 1) Securing preferential access to research and development in critical minerals extraction and processing, 2) Building a talent pipeline for future workforce needs and 3) Potentially developing proprietary technologies for more efficient tellurium extraction. This positions First Solar to better manage supply chain risks in an industry where China currently dominates many critical mineral supplies.
The alignment with federal initiatives, including Missouri S&T's leadership in the Critical Minerals Tech Hub, suggests potential access to government funding and support, though the monetary value remains unspecified. For investors, while this represents sound strategic planning, it's unlikely to materially impact near-term financial performance.
The focus on tellurium is particularly noteworthy as it's a important semiconductor element in First Solar's proprietary Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology. Current global tellurium production is , with much of it recovered as a copper mining byproduct. Developing more efficient extraction methods could significantly impact First Solar's cost structure and supply security.
The partnership with Missouri S&T's expertise in extractive metallurgy could lead to breakthrough innovations in tellurium recovery processes, potentially reducing dependency on foreign supplies. However, any technological advances would likely take several years to implement at scale. The emphasis on "cleaning up afterwards" also suggests research into sustainable mining practices, which could provide regulatory compliance advantages and ESG benefits.
American solar manufacturer establishes endowed professorship in critical energy materials
“We recognize Missouri S&T’s unparalleled depth of expertise in responsible production of critical energy materials, and we’re pleased to be able to help ensure that this endures into the future,” says Mike Koralewski, chief supply chain officer at First Solar. “Our relationship is a great example of what’s possible when industry and academia work together to secure critical supply chains.”
Dr. Michael Moats, professor and chair of materials science and engineering at S&T, has worked with First Solar for many years, advising the company on existing tellurium supply and opportunities to increase affordable and sustainable recovery of the metalloid from existing operations. He believes First Solar’s endowment is key to Missouri S&T’s strategy to be a leader in critical minerals research by developing expertise on important points across the supply chain that governs each mineral’s journey to the marketplace.
“The position will plug into our team and complement the expertise we already have throughout the supply chain, from policy and economics to cleaning up afterwards,” says Moats. “The generosity and foresight of First Solar will enhance our ability to impact the nation and the world.”
Moats says the endowed professorship adds to the already extensive amount of work Missouri S&T has undertaken in the critical minerals arena.
Missouri S&T is home to the Thomas J. O’Keefe Center for Critical Minerals, which supports research and other scholarly activities, including the fourth annual Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals workshop funded by the National Science Foundation, which S&T hosted in August. In addition, Missouri S&T leads the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub consortium, which was selected as one of 31 tech hubs in October 2023; the Tech Hub Program is administered by the
“The fact is, other economies dominate the global market for certain elements, and when restrictions are placed on those elements, there’s the potential to disrupt manufacturing, slow down our fight against climate change and impact our national security,” Moats says. “By ensuring that extractive metallurgy is taught at a college level, First Solar is helping us address these challenges.”
First Solar is committed to investing in the education of the next generation workforce that will enable the mining industry to better support the green energy transition. By endowing this professorship, First Solar aims to foster research and education that will equip future professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to advance the mining and materials industries. This investment is crucial for developing innovative solutions and technologies that will drive the green energy transition and ensure a sustainable future.
Koralewski says First Solar’s hope is to support research that benefits as many people and organizations as possible.
“As America’s solar company, we want to help enhance our country’s critical mineral security by enabling Missouri S&T,” he says. “If discoveries made as part of our collaboration with Missouri S&T can be disseminated and more widely adopted, it will have a much more meaningful impact.”
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