Arizona-headquartered First Solar, Inc. a leading U.S.-based photovoltaic solar technology and manufacturing company, has taken a significant step in strengthening the nation’s critical materials supply chain. The company has established the Endowed Professorship in Critical Energy Materials within the materials science and engineering department at Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T)
This strategic decision underscores the long-standing collaboration between First Solar and Missouri S&T, particularly in the area of critical minerals, such as tellurium, a key component in First Solar’s solar panel technology. The partnership highlights the importance of industry-academia collaboration in securing supply chains essential for renewable energy and national security.
Industry and Academia Join Forces for Critical Materials Security
First Solar’s chief supply chain officer, Mike Koralewski, emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering expertise in critical energy materials.
“We recognize 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,” says Koralewski. “Our relationship is a great example of what’s possible when industry and academia work together to secure critical supply chains.”
Missouri S&T has a long-standing reputation for its expertise in materials science, with a focus on sustainable extraction and processing of critical minerals. Dr. Michael Moats, professor and chair of materials science and engineering at Missouri S&T, has been instrumental in advising First Solar on tellurium supply and exploring ways to enhance its sustainable and affordable recovery.
Advancing Critical Minerals Research at Missouri S&T
The endowed professorship represents a major step forward in Missouri S&T’s mission to lead critical minerals research. Dr. Moats emphasized that the position will integrate into existing research teams and complement the university’s expertise across the entire supply chain, from resource extraction to policy development and environmental sustainability.
“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 afterward,” says Moats. “The generosity and foresight of First Solar will enhance our ability to impact the nation and the world.”
Missouri S&T has already established itself as a key player in the critical minerals field. The university is home to the Thomas J. O’Keefe Center for Critical Minerals, which supports research, education, and industry partnerships. The center also hosts the fourth annual Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals workshop, funded by the National Science Foundation, which brings together experts to discuss supply chain resilience.
National Recognition and Leadership in Critical Materials
Missouri S&T has further solidified its leadership by spearheading the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub consortium. In October 2023, this consortium was selected as one of 31 tech hubs under the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration Tech Hub Program. The designation reflects Missouri S&T’s critical role in advancing the domestic supply chain for materials essential to renewable energy and high-tech industries.
“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,” Moats explains. “By ensuring that extractive metallurgy is taught at a college level, First Solar is helping us address these challenges.”
Strengthening the Workforce for a Green Energy Future
First Solar’s investment extends beyond research—it is also an investment in the future workforce. The endowed professorship will help train the next generation of materials scientists, engineers, and policymakers who will play a vital role in securing critical mineral supply chains. By supporting education and workforce development, First Solar aims to bridge the skills gap in mining, refining, and sustainable resource management.
Koralewski reinforced this commitment, stating that First Solar sees the professorship as a way to drive innovation and broaden the impact of critical materials research.
“As America’s solar company, we want to help enhance our country’s critical mineral security by enabling Missouri S&T,” Koralewski says. “If discoveries made as part of our collaboration with Missouri S&T can be disseminated and more widely adopted, it will have a much more meaningful impact.
About Missouri University of Science and Technology
Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.
About First Solar
First Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: FSLR) is America’s leading photovoltaic (PV) solar technology and manufacturing company. The only US-headquartered company among the world’s largest solar manufacturers, First Solar is focused on competitively and reliably enabling power generation needs with its advanced, uniquely American thin-film PV technology. Developed at R&D labs in California and Ohio, the company’s technology represents the next generation of solar power generation, providing a competitive, high-performance, and responsibly produced alternative to conventional crystalline silicon PV modules. For more information, please visit www.firstsolar.com.
