Powering the future of copper.
We’re transforming copper extraction with localized, cost-effective technology that maximizes recovery while minimizing harm and waste to ensure our future is still bright. Still Bright offers a better alternative to the status quo and redefines what’s considered recoverable.
The world’s reliance on copper has never been greater—or more at risk.
Copper is a critical material for electronics, transmission, construction, and other industries that underpin our economic infrastructure—and its demand is projected to increase by 100% in the next ten years.
While there’s enough copper in the ground to satisfy this growth, multi-decade permitting timelines, geopolitical risk, declining ore quality, and environmental issues will threaten to cause major shortages and disrupt the copper supply chain when it’s needed the most. The only way forward is to get more copper out of the ground as fast as possible. The future of copper needs to be safer and easier to permit, more efficient, and more robust to process a wide range of copper sources.
Still Bright’s solution addresses all of these challenges, and unlocks expanded copper resources previously considered unrecoverable.
global refined copper usage
(in metric tons)
49m
25m
2030
(projected)
2021
The current state of copper
significant copper reserves
where ~70% of copper is smelted
$3b
of unrefined copper is exported from the U.S. annually for refining overseas
2nd
The U.S. is the 2nd largest importer of refined copper products
Bringing copper back to the U.S.
Historically, copper has been refined through smelting—a process that burns copper concentrates to enrich copper while releasing toxins into the air. This makes the process hard to permit and expensive to operate in the U.S. and thus has largely been outsourced. This means that, although the U.S. has ample raw materials to produce copper, it’s dependent on other countries to refine it to a usable form.
Still Bright’s technology replaces smelting, bringing copper production back to the U.S. and reviving its history as a copper powerhouse.
Maximizing copper recovery regardless of mine specifics
Still Bright’s RACER (rapid and complete electrochemical reduction) Technology achieves fast and complete hydrometallurgical copper extraction in minutes.
A Still Bright future:
Maximizes copper recovery, minimizes harm
Our electric, regenerative, closed-loop system better handles impurities to avoid toxic pollution, while still enabling near-complete recovery.
Realizes full value mining
Minimal copper lost upstream, recovery of precious co-products, and 80% CapEx savings with comparable OpEx realizes the full value of the mine.
Empowers
domestic production
Safe and sustainable processing streamlines permitting and offers a solution for raw materials sent overseas.
Powers an efficient, intelligent future
There is no energy transition or AI revolution without more copper. Unlocking new copper resources enables these new demands on copper.
In the news
-
VIDEO: This start-up’s approach can refine copper more cheaply and sustainably.
-
New technologies could refine the copper the world needs — without the dirty smelting.
-
Innovation can disrupt the mining industry. These sustainable start-ups are leading the way.
-
REPORT: A guide to the next generation of climate companies.
Partner with us
Still Bright is solving the mining industry’s most pervasive challenges. Our 2026 pilot projects will focus on extracting copper from resources with limited processing options, including “dirty” copper concentrates and raw materials being exported for processing.
Think your site could benefit from Still Bright’s RACER technology? Reach out to learn how much value a Still Bright solution would create for you!
