How UK explorers are leading the way in sourcing critical raw materials for emerging technologies
Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are elements which are economically and strategically important for the UK & European economies. These materials are identified as having high-risk associated with their supply and are classified ‘Critical’ because:
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They have a significant economic importance for key sectors including environmental technologies, consumer electronics, healthcare, automotive, scientific research & development, internet communications, defence and aviation.
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They carry a significant supply risk due to high import dependence.
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There is a lack of (viable) alternatives due to the unique and irreplaceable properties offered by these materials.
This insight highlights the importance of one of these critically listed raw materials: Helium (He).
Helium exploration and development is an industry emerging from a decade-long supply shortage. As the most stable element on the periodic table, helium is uniquely inert and essential in many applications, serving as a cornerstone of our technologically advanced way of life, though many people are unaware of their reliance on it.
Until recently, the USA was the largest supplier of helium, hosting the world’s largest stand-alone repository, the Federal Helium Reserve. Established in 1925, the Reserve was privatised earlier this year but is now a shadow of its former self, having plummeted from over 44 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of helium to approximately 4 Bcf today. Research suggests that the global helium requirement is estimated to increase from 6.1 Bcf in 2023 to 8.1 Bcf in 2030, with the following fast growth sectors requiring significant quantities of helium:
Medical Technology: Helium plays a crucial role in medical treatments requiring enhanced oxygen intake, such as addressing upper airway obstruction in conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Additionally, helium is essential for the operation of MRI scanners, where liquid helium cools the superconducting magnets within the machines. Notably, the medical sector stands as one of the foremost consumers of helium, highlighting its pivotal role in advancing healthcare technology.
Consumer technology: Helium is essential in the manufacturing and assembly of many electronic devices. It serves multiple critical roles in semiconductor fabrication, crucially important chips which can be found in thousands of products including artificial intelligence (AI), computers, smartphones, appliances, gaming hardware and household entertainment systems. Helium is also employed as a purge gas to establish clean environments, eliminating contaminants and ensuring controlled atmospheres, vital during microchip manufacturing.
Aerospace: Liquid helium is used as a pressure agent for cryogenic fuel tanks in space rockets. As the rocket burns fuel, the fuel tank is purged with liquid helium to maintain pressure. When you see a rocket on the launch pad with gas emanating from its side, it is likely to be helium boiling at -268.9ºC.
In addition to the primary markets as listed above, helium is in increasing demand across a variety of burgeoning frontier markets including:
Drones and Robotics: Helium is used extensively in the manufacturing of semiconductors which play a crucial role in drones and robotics. Drone electronics, including flight controllers, communication systems, and navigation modules all require the integration of semiconductors enabling them to operate autonomously, navigate complex environments, and execute missions with precision. Advanced semiconductor technologies, such as microprocessors and integrated circuits empower robots with computational capabilities enabling real-time data processing, image recognition and the ability to execute complex algorithms and make decisions based on sensor input.
Lasers: Widely used across the manufacturing, transportation and military sectors, helium is integral for many types of laser, critical for cooling, ranging and targeting. The fibre laser market is projected to grow by 145% between 2019 – 2030 (Sce: tinyurl.com/24n29rx2).
Data storage: By 2025 it is estimated that 181 x zettabytes (181 x trillion gigabytes) will be created, captured, copied & consumed globally. Since 2013, cost-effective & highly efficient helium hard drives have been essential for powering high-volume data storage centres (Sce: tinyurl.com/bdzzzan9).
Renewables: Battery technology is playing an increasingly pivotal role in the 'Green Energy Transition'. Battery storage technologies enable energy from renewables to be stored, then released when the power is needed most, helping maintain balance between supply and demand within the power system. Helium is commonly used in leak detection tests during battery cell, module & pack production processes.
Pulsar Helium is a primary helium exploration company comprising British founders: CEO Thomas Abraham-James, Chairman Neil Herbert and Australian born Technical manager Josh Bluett with its PR and strategic partnerships team led by fellow Briton Marc Farrington. The team comprises helium pioneers and seasoned experts in the realm of gas exploration and production.
Pulsar is committed to the development of new sustainable primary helium assets, prioritising projects where helium is the main economic driver rather than hydrocarbons. The company boasts two primary helium assets, both strategically located in safe jurisdictions:
- The ‘Tunu’ project in Greenland. Upon successful development it will have the potential to become the UK’s most accessible, local and possibly only source of helium.
- The ‘Topaz’ project in Minnesota, USA. This asset was recently confirmed as the most significant primary helium discovery in North America with exceptional helium concentrations of between 8.7% and 14.5%.
Over the past 12 months, Pulsar has made notable strides, particularly in North America and is uniquely positioned to ease the strain on one of the world’s critically important raw materials essential to our way of life. With a highly anticipated stream of updates expected in the coming weeks and months, we invite you to visit our website, subscribe to our mailing list and learn more: pulsarhelium.com
techUK – Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation
The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.
techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.
For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click ‘contact us’.
Tech and Innovation Summit, 6 Nov (rescheduled date)
Emerging technologies will be debated and explored at our annual Tech and Innovation Summit, taking place on 6 November. This campaign week will directly feed into the themes discussed at the Summit.
techUK’s flagship Tech and Innovation Summit returns to traverse the extraordinary and ground-breaking discoveries made possible by the application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Upcoming events:
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Learn more about our Unleashing Innovation campaign:
Sprint Campaigns
This campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.
These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report.
Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.
Event round-ups
Report
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
This campaign has explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.
These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).
Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations is currently being produced (to be launched in September 2024).
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Event round-ups
Insights
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Running from July to December 2024, this campaign will explore how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.
These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.
Activity will take the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and reports.
Get in touch below to find out more about contributing to or collaborating on this campaign.
Upcoming events
Get in touch
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Campaign Weeks
Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.
Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.
Summits
Tech and Innovation Summit 2023
Tech and Innovation Summit 2024
Rory Daniels
Rory Daniels
Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.
During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.
Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.
Today, he is techUK's Programme Manager for Emerging Technologies, covering dozens of technologies including metaverse, drones, future materials, robotics, blockchain, space technologies, nanotechnology, gaming tech and Web3.0.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Laura Foster
Laura Foster
Laura is techUK’s Head of Programme for Technology and Innovation.
She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies, including Quantum Computing, High-Performance Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies, across the UK. As part of this, she works alongside techUK members and UK Government to champion long-term and sustainable innovation policy that will ensure the UK is a pioneer in science and technology
Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week.
Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster
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