Description
The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the "Mine of the Future – Proving Ground Initiative". The goal of this work is to de-risk the adoption of new mining technologies for commercialization and widespread industry adoption. This will be achieved through the development of mine technology proving grounds, accelerated R&D projects, and collaborative partnerships. Key objectives include assessing mining technologies for efficiency, cost, and recovery, developing methods to process low-grade ores, minimizing waste rock, and reducing water use.
• Development of Mine Technology Proving Grounds: Competitive awards will establish dedicated technology testing sites that support future R&D in mining technology, real-world testing, and optimization.
• Accelerated R&D Projects: Applicants will propose work for up to two signature mining technologies to be developed and proven at their proposed proving ground facility.
• Collaborative Partnerships: A key to successful execution will be the collaboration between government, industry/private sector, and academia, leveraging diverse expertise, infrastructure, and support for technology development and demonstration.