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Braeton Smith

Argonne National Lab

Economist

Braeton is an Economist in Argonne’s Decision & Infrastructure Sciences Division. His research focusses on critical material supply chains, economic consequence analysis, and quantifying the economic benefits of infrastructure resilience.

Presentations

Developing the North American permanent magnet supply chain for energy technologies:
Industry and government perspectives

This panel discussion will focus on both government and industry efforts to develop a robust North American supply chain of permanent magnets to support the energy sector industrial base (ESIB). Rare earth magnets, such as sintered neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets, are especially important to the ESIB as they are critical components of traction motors in electric vehicles and direct drive generators in offshore wind turbines. Yet, nearly all supply chain stages of sintered NeFeB magnets are concentrated in China, posing a potential vulnerability for ESIB supply chains required to meet climate goals.

Moderator: Braeton J. Smith, Argonne National Laboratory

Panelists:
Helena Khazdozian, Advanced Manufacturing & Materials Technology Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Salim Bhabhrawala, Critical Materials Program Manager, Office of Manufacturing & Energy Supply Chains, U.S. Department of Energy
Alan Lund, MP Materials
Frank Johnson, Chief Technology Officer, Niron Magnetics

Panel: Recycling Magnet & Critical Materials: Paving the Way for Sustainable Resource Management

Recycling magnet and critical materials has become a pressing necessity in our quest for sustainable resource management. This panel will bring together experts, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the latest developments, challenges, and opportunities in recycling essential materials, including rare earth elements and other critical resources used in magnets and various high-tech applications.

The panelists will discuss cutting-edge recycling technologies and processes that enable the recovery and reuse of valuable materials from end-of-life products and waste streams. They will highlight successful case studies and initiatives that demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of recycling these critical materials.

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