Photovoltaic (PV) solar technology and manufacturing company First Solar is the only US-based manufacturer and is among the world’s largest producers of solar panels. The decision to endow a professorship at Missouri S&T reflects the strategic alignment between the two organisations, which have collaborated on critical minerals, particularly tellurium, for the past decade.
“We recognise 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” said 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.”
Missouri S&T is home to the Thomas J. O’Keefe Centre 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 Programme is administered by the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration.
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” added Dr. Michael Moats, professor and chair of materials science and engineering at S&T, who 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. “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. By ensuring that extractive metallurgy is taught at a college level, First Solar is helping us address these challenges.”
Investment in the education of the next generation workforce 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.
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Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T)
