Analysis

Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

New Atlanticist Aug 5, 2025

A tale of two supply chains: Comparing Trump’s new copper tariffs and rare earth investments

By Alexis Harmon, Reed Blakemore

Two recent interventions by the Trump administration highlight the importance of tailoring mineral policy on a case-by-case basis.
Critical Minerals Economy & Business
Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

Issue Brief Jul 1, 2025

A US framework for assessing risk in critical mineral supply chains

By Reed Blakemore, Peter Engelke

Critical mineral risks to US national and economic security should be evaluated on a mineral-by mineral basis
Critical Minerals Energy & Environment
Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

Trackers and Data Visualizations Jun 8, 2025

Learn how China orchestrated its rare earths dominance

By Craig Hart

Explore the decision-making processes and financial flows that power China’s rare earths ecosystem.
China Energy & Environment
Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

Report Jun 6, 2025

Keeping China at bay and critical minerals stocked: The case for US-Africa defense collaboration

By Aleksandra Gadzala Tirziu

As Russia, China, and other authoritarian powers expand their global reach, US security is at stake. To stay competitive, the United States must turn to Africa—for both critical minerals and partnership in countering rising adversarial influence on the continent.
Africa Critical Minerals
Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

New Atlanticist Apr 30, 2025

Experts react: At last, the US and Ukraine signed a minerals deal. Here’s what to expect next.

By Atlantic Council experts

After months of wrangling, Washington and Kyiv quietly finalized a much-anticipated agreement on April 30. Atlantic Council experts dig into the details.
Critical Minerals Geopolitics & Energy Security
Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

Report Dec 19, 2024

What African producers of critical minerals can learn from Indonesia’s experience

By Bradford Simmons and Julien Marcilly

Indonesia and its success with resource nationalism can serve as an example for many mineral-rich African countries.
Africa Critical Minerals

Workstreams

Global Energy Center

Critical energy supply chains

Strengthening national security and industrial competitiveness through energy diplomacy, strategic trade initiatives, and industrial and innovation policy.
Africa Center

Critical Minerals Task Force

The Africa Center’s Critical Minerals Task Force serves as a leading platform for research and discussion on the burgeoning critical mineral partnership between African countries and the United States.

Events

Public Event Tue, January 27, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

Korea Zinc Chairman Yun B. Choi on allied partnership for minerals security

Choi discusses emerging models for allied cooperation on critical mineral supply chain resilience.
East Asia Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security
Public Event Thu, December 11, 2025 • 1:00 pm ET

2025 Critical Minerals Supply Chains Summit

Senior government officials, industry leaders, and global experts convene to chart a path toward secure and competitive minerals supply chains.

Defense Industry Economy & Business Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security
Public Event Fri, May 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Critical minerals and the pathways to prosperity, peace, and security in the DRC

Following the DRC’s offer of a critical minerals deal with the US and high level talks, the Africa Center hosts a series of conversations with experts to provide a roadmap on investment priorities to the private and public sector.
Africa Critical Minerals Democratic Republic of the Congo Economy & Business
Online Event Wed, February 16, 2022 • 10:00 am ET

Preparing the United States for a mineral-intensive future

Global Energy Center experts discuss the mineral supply challenge facing the United States as it intensifies its climate ambition.
Critical Minerals Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security Renewables & Advanced Energy

Want to learn more or get engaged on minerals?

Contact US

Explore the programs

The Africa Center works to promote dynamic geopolitical partnerships with African states and to redirect US and European policy priorities toward strengthening security and bolstering economic growth and prosperity on the continent.

Learn more

The Global Energy Center develops and promotes pragmatic and nonpartisan policy solutions designed to advance global energy security, enhance economic opportunity, and accelerate pathways to net-zero emissions.

learn more

Content

Issue Brief

Sep 13, 2022

Alternative battery chemistries and diversifying clean energy supply chains

By Reed Blakemore, Paddy Ryan, William Tobin

In an ecosystem of growth for batteries for grid storage and electric vehicle applications, alternatives to the lithium-ion battery chemistry may play an increasing role in alleviating supply chain woes and enabling deep decarbonization.

Australia China

EnergySource

Sep 13, 2022

In an ecosystem of growth for batteries, a diversity of options is key

By William Tobin

In the current battery market, much of the demand—and much of the supply chain stress—falls on lithium, whose electrochemical properties make it ideal for energy storage. But other battery technologies could play their own roles, particularly in grid-scale storage. An all-of-the-above approach would allow them to contribute significantly to the energy transition.

Critical Minerals Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Aug 8, 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act places a big bet on alternative mineral supply chains

By Reed Blakemore, Paddy Ryan

The Inflation Reduction Act's consumer electric vehicle tax credit will create strong demand for alternative minerals, sourced and processed outside of existing supply chains. The ability for these alternative supplies to meaningfully diversify mineral value chains hinges on further investment and policymaking effort.

Critical Minerals Energy & Environment

EnergySource

Apr 28, 2022

The US should leverage 45Q for the graphite supply crunch

By William Tobin

The US is staring down a significant shortfall in the supply of graphite, a critical mineral to the energy transition. Synthetic graphite production using captured carbon could be the way forward, and the 45Q tax credit is the best tool policymakers have to stimulate it.

Critical Minerals Energy & Environment
An electric vehicle charger

Report

Nov 16, 2021

The role of minerals in US transportation electrification goals

By Reed Blakemore

Electric vehicles will play a pivotal role in US efforts to reduce emissions and meet climate commitments under the Paris agreement. For the United States to deliver on the “decade of ambition” President Biden declared at COP26 in Glasgow, it must tackle the 30 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions originating from transportation. To that […]

Critical Minerals Geopolitics & Energy Security

EnergySource

Jun 10, 2021

Biden-Harris administration hundred-day supply chain review: Key takeaways for minerals security in the energy transition

By Reed Blakemore

The White House has recently released findings from a hundred-day review of supply chains, which included specific recommendations for securing key minerals and metals critical to the energy transition. This report serves as an important first step as the United States begins to address the mineral supply chain challenge, and highlights several important themes policymakers will continue to grapple with as they search for solutions.

Critical Minerals Energy & Environment

100 Ideas for the first 100 days

Apr 12, 2021

#83: Require Minimum of One Non-Chinese Supplier for Critical Infrastructure Materials

By: Franklin D. Kramer What is the kernel of the issue? During the COVID-19 pandemic, critical supply chains in the United States for personal protective equipment and other medical supplies were to a large degree reliant on Chinese suppliers. Similar reliance extends well beyond the medical sector to materials and components needed for critical infrastructures. Rare earth minerals, specialized […]

Critical Minerals

Experts

Staff

Reed Blakemore

Director, Research and Programs

Global Energy Center

Geopolitics & Energy Security Energy Transitions

Staff

Peter Engelke

Senior Fellow, GeoStrategy Initiative

GeoStrategy Initiative Global Energy Center

Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Francis R. Fannon

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Critical Minerals Energy & Environment

Staff

Alexis Harmon

Assistant Director

Global Energy Center

Critical Minerals Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fellow

Aubrey Hruby

Senior Advisor

Africa Center

Economy & Business

Events

Flagship Event Tue, June 9, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

2026 Global Energy Forum

The tenth Global Energy Forum will chart the course for continued innovation, collaboration, and leadership in the global energy transition. 
Africa Americas Climate Change & Climate Action Critical Minerals