Aclara Receives U.S. DOE Funding for AI in Rare Earth Processing

Aclara Resources Inc. has announced that its U.S. subsidiary, Aclara Technologies Inc., has been selected for federal funding by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This funding supports the DOE's Genesis Mission initiative aimed at advancing artificial intelligence technologies for optimizing domestic rare earth separation.

Aclara's Phase I project, "AI-Enabled Process Optimization for Multi-Feed Rare Earth Separation," focuses on applying AI to enhance process efficiency and quality in rare earth element separation. The project, conducted in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory and Virginia Tech, aims to improve operational stability and accelerate technology commercialization.

The initiative involves developing an AI-assisted digital twin to optimize complex extraction circuits, leveraging data from Virginia Tech's pilot plant. Aclara's project is part of the DOE's broader effort to secure critical minerals supply through advanced extraction technologies.