CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES: Four Projects Selected to Advance U.S. Critical Minerals Tech

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Four Projects Selected to Advance U.S. Critical Minerals Tech

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) selected four projects for $73 million in funding through DOE's Mine of the Future initiative to establish domestic testing grounds for innovative mining technologies. These selections will accelerate the commercialization of mining technologies, upgrade domestic mining capabilities, and build on President Trump’s mission to secure America’s critical minerals supply chains.

DOE Awards $73 Million to Build Next-Generation Mining Testbeds

“Investing in moving cutting-edge mining technologies out of the lab and into the field will help unleash America’s vast mineral resources,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “President Trump is committed to rebuilding America’s mining industry, reducing our dependence on foreign adversaries, and securing the critical minerals that are foundational to our energy, manufacturing, and national security.”

“These investments will prove that American innovation can redefine what’s possible in modern mining,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. “By establishing world-class testing grounds, we’re accelerating breakthroughs that will strengthen our supply chains, our workforce, and our national competitiveness.”

$73M Investment Aims to Bring Advanced Mining Technologies from Lab to Field

DOE’s Advanced Mining and Mineral Processing Technologies Office selected the following projects for award negotiations:

Innovative Wireless Technologies, Inc. (HQ: Lynchburg, Virginia, project locations: Julian, West Virginia, Idaho Springs, Colorado, and Blacksburg, Virginia)

This project aims to create a national testbed to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced mining technologies that enhance safety, productivity, and supply chain resilience. The effort will combine underground and surface mining environments to validate next-generation digital, connectivity, and automation solutions in real-world conditions.

University of Arizona (HQ: Tucson, Arizona, project location: Sahuarita, Arizona)

New National Testing Grounds to Strengthen America’s Critical Minerals Supply Chain

The project will create a nationally accessible underground testbed to speed up the development and deployment of advanced mining, electrification, and energy management technologies. This scalable proving ground aims to reduce technical and operational risks while strengthening U.S. critical mineral supply chains through improved productivity, energy efficiency, and faster commercialization.

Curators of the University of Missouri (HQ and project location: Rolla, Missouri)

This project will create a multifunctional mining technology proving ground that combines two complementary facilities for underground technology testing and advanced comminution research. The University of Missouri will design, build, and equip this national resource to support innovation, real-world validation, and workforce development for next-generation mining technologies.

Southern Methodist University (HQ: Dallas, TX, project location: Navasota, Texas)

DOE Launches Field-Scale Mining Innovation Hubs Across Four States

This project will create the world’s first synthetic mine within an advanced drilling and sensing test facility to accelerate next generation mining technologies from lab concepts to field ready deployment. By repurposing a highly instrumented Texas drilling site, it will enable rigorous, repeatable, and safe testing of mining tools, workflows, and automation systems.

Minerals and mining stakeholders require field sites to test innovative technologies under real-world conditions. These projects will not only develop mining proving grounds but also support R&D projects that accelerate the progression of technologies from laboratories to testing and demonstration in a field-scale setting, an essential step to de-risk commercial adoption. These projects will also create opportunities for hands-on workforce training to prepare the next generation of American miners and engineers to operate advanced mining systems.

Hrvatski minerali

Kritični minerali (litij, bakar, rijetki zemni elementi, kobalt itd.) su temelj modernog energetskog sustava, elektronike, obrane i industrije. SAD je godinama bio pretjerano ovisan o uvozu, posebno iz Kine i drugih zemalja s kojima ima geopolitičke tenzije. Laborski prototipovi i papirnati planovi ne rješavaju taj problem – treba stvarna, kontrolirana polja za testiranje tehnologija u realnim uvjetima (podzemlje, površinski kopovi, automatizacija, digitalna povezivost, elektrifikacija, usitnjavanje rude).

Ova četiri projekta upravo to rade: grade nacionalne “proving groundove” umjesto da se inovacije drže u laboratoriju. To smanjuje rizik prijelaza na komercijalnu razinu, ubrzava usvajanje i istovremeno stvara infrastrukturu za obuku radne snage. Ako se dobro provede, to je korisno bez obzira na političku etiketu.

Naravno, postoje i upozorenja:

Rudarstvo i dalje nosi okolišne i društvene troškove – testiranje tehnologija ne smije postati izgovor za opuštanje standarda.

73 milijuna dolara nije ogromna svota u kontekstu cijele industrije, pa će stvarni učinak ovisiti o tome koliko se privatni sektor i lokalne države uključe.

“Rebuilding America’s mining industry” zvuči dobro, ali dugoročno će uspjeh ovisiti o dozvolama, infrastrukturi, kapitalu i stvarnoj konkurentnosti, a ne samo o testnim poligonima.

Smjer je ispravan. Sigurnost opskrbnih lanaca kritičnih minerala nije ideološko pitanje – to je strateška nužnost. Ovi projekti su konkretan, tehnički orijentiran korak u tom smjeru.

Hrvatska ima neke od kritičnih minerala, ali u skromnim količinama i većinom nedovoljno istraženim nalazištima.

Prema podacima Hrvatskog geološkog instituta (HGI-CGS), EuroGeoSurveys i znanstvenim radovima, Hrvatska nije značajan proizvođač kritičnih mineralnih sirovina (CRM), a nalazišta su uglavnom klasificirana kao mala, pa se ne prikazuju na europskim kartama srednjih i velikih ležišta. Potencijal ipak postoji, posebno za neke sirovine važne za zelenu i digitalnu tranziciju.

Hrvatska trenutno ne proizvodi značajnije količine ovih kritičnih minerala (bilo kakva metalna proizvodnja je minorna).
Potencijal je umjeren i uglavnom neiskorišten – potrebna su dodatna geološka istraživanja, posebno za litij, REE i bakar.
Najrealniji i najbliži komercijalni potencijal imaju barit, grafit, magnezij (dolomiti) i boksit (s mogućim REE).

Hrvatska nije “bogata” kritičnim mineralima kao neke druge europske zemlje, ali nije ni prazna. Postoje konkretne pojave i geološki razlozi za daljnja istraživanja, posebno u kontekstu EU Critical Raw Materials Act-a.

Željko Serdar, Hrvatski Centar Obnovljivih Izvora Energije (HCOIE)

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Zeljko Serdar

	Meet a fearless child, a revolutionary teen, an irreverent youth, father of 2, entrepreneur, blogger, investor, humanitarian, president and CEO at CCRES Dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting both economic prosperity and environmental protection.Working to harvest this knowledge. The pioneering experience of corporations, governments and financiers will be captured, analyzed and made available for others to learn from. HRVATSKI CENTAR OBNOVLJIVIH IZVORA ENERGIJE
	HCOIE

	Edukacija i savjetovanje o korištenju obnovljivih izvora energije organiziranjem tečajeva, radionica, tribina, seminara, kongresa i drugih skupova te putem medija; suradnja s domaćim i međunarodnim institucijama u svezi obnovljenih izvora energije; povezivanje gospodarstvenika, znanstveno-istraživačkih institucija, lokalnih zajednica, tijela državne uprave i ostalih subjekata na projektima koji koriste obnovljive izvore energije.

Project CCRES AQUAPONICS

Course Overview: Whether you are a beginner, a backyard hobbyist, a homesteader or a skilled professional wanting to start a career in Aquaponics this course has something to offer. This course is intended to provide people with the best all inclusive training, hands-on experience and cutting edge methods of Permaculture based Aquaponics available anywhere! Wether you want to grow food for you and your family, a small business or a fully commercial operation this course will be sure to give you the tools, information and experience you will need to be successful in what ever Aquaponic endeavor you are interested in. At a time of global climate change, depletion of resources, pollution of water and huge losses of top soil worldwide, there has never been a more important time to learn about CCRES Aquaponics!“Imagine a technology that produces healthy organic food, clean water, and renewable energy all at the same time. We call it CCRES AQUAPONICS,”

PROJECT CCRES SPIRULINA

The ongoing support from the private investment community speaks to how strongly they believe in the development of Green Crude as an alternative fuel resource, especially ability to commercialize it,” CCRES. Few consider seaweeds as a viable source of energy and protein for terrestrial animals (at least until their cost becomes more attractive). Macro-algae have been shown, however, to possess several functional properties, including those of a functional fiber, with immune-stimulating and prebiotic effects. Today, marine algal extracts are used as an additive in pig and poultry diets with promising results. Furthermore, micro-algae have been shown to contain high levels of beneficial lipids that can be used in layer and sow diets as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Finally, both types of algae are used as an active component in clay-based anti-mycotoxin agents. For example, the treatment of clay with a macro-algal extract has been shown to increase the reactive surface of clay up to eight times. Croatian Center of Renewable Energy Sources (CCRES) offers several solutions that support the nutritional part of the production system. CCRES solutions combine algae feed additive products with their services, e.g. gut quality scoring, product application systems and customised dosing advice.

PROJECT CCRES ALGAE BIOFUEL

Given the right conditions, algae can double its volume overnight. Microalgae are the earth’s most productive plants –– 10 to 15 times more prolific in biomass than the fastest growing land plant exploited for biofuel production. While soy produces some 50 gallons of oil per acre per year; canola, 150 gallons; and palm, 650 gallons, algae can produce up to 15,000 gallons per acre per year. In addition, up to 50 percent (or more) of algae biomass (dry weight) is comprised of oil, whereas oil-palm trees—currently the most efficient large-scale source of feedstock oil to make biofuels—yield approximately 20 percent of their weight in oil.

CCRES Research facility, Sveti Rok, Croatia

Project Type Rural, Intentional Communities, Community, Demonstration, Educational Project Summary At the CCRES Research Facility, we are working with farmers who are converting their working farmland into agroforestry operations. The CCRES Program addresses the need to better understand and implement agroforestry practices on a commercial scale. As these operations grow, so too will the need for industrial infrastructure and support. Project Description The apprentice roles at CCRES Research facility, in Sveti Rok, Croatia are suited to folks who are dedicating their lives to a career in regenerative agriculture. Whilst this farm is a bustling hub for learning and practice, we expect high standards in both work ethic and your ability to work as a beneficial team member. We work, live, learn and play together in quite close quarters during the season, and your attitude and aptitude are the most important qualities behind getting the most from this experience. People that get the most from their time with us tend to have the “get it done” attitude, are self-starting, communicative, teachable, positive solutions focused, dependable and take-responsibility for what they are managing. We are looking for very pragmatic folks that are good with their hands and tools, who are situationally aware and ready to get their hands dirty wherever needed on the farm. Environmental impact Less human influence means natural processes have a chance to help improve the natural environment and restore nature. Wildlife species can come back and experience less conflict with humans, and food chains can restore. Dynamic, mosaic landscapes can develop driven by large herbivores and large carnivores, supporting species of a wide range of open/semi-open habitats. Socio-economic impact New businesses can be developed based on wilder landscapes and wildlife comeback, offering new and different products. Provision of new job and income opportunities. Social coherence and local society can be enhanced if new local businesses build networks and generate multiplier effects. Reduced dependency on subsidies. Cultural impact Younger people and families returning to the countryside looking for new opportunities, bringing new life into rural communities. Local/regional branding of areas and products providing new identities and local pride that are nature/wildlife related. Cultural heritage and traditional skills reinvigorated and in a different setting.

Interview with Mr Zeljko Serdar, CCRES

PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR PROTÉGÉ A Protégé receives a wide range of business development help from their Mentor, including: Technical, financial management, and developmental assistance to gain the knowledge, skills, and capabilities Advice and mentorship on program and project management, information technology, business equipment, and workspaces; Long-term relationships with small and/or large businesses to form teaming arrangements and/or joint ventures. PROGRAM BENEFITS FOR MENTOR There are many benefits for a Mentor helping a Protégé develop their business, including: Helping small businesses and minority institutions of higher learning expand their capacity through developmental and technical assistance; Utilizing the unique/specialized skills of the Protégé and shortening the learning curve of bringing on a new subcontractor; Identifying subcontractors and streamlining the procurement process. page 62-63

CROATIAN CENTER of RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

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Saturday, September 12, 2026

Four Projects Selected to Advance U.S. Critical Minerals Tech

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