US earmarks $3 billion for battery projects

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 23, 2024 – The US Department of Energy (DOE) will provide funding of more than USD 3 billion to 25 projects for the domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials, the DOE announced on Thursday.

Administered by the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, the selected projects will retrofit, expand and build new domestic facilities for battery-grade processed critical minerals, battery components, battery manufacturing and recycling.

The projects have been selected to reinforce different segments of the country’s battery supply chains and will include the construction and expansion of commercial-scale facilities to extract and recycle critical minerals including lithium, graphite and manganese, as well as the manufacturing, processing and recycling of components.

Among the components targeted for production are electrolyte salts, solid-state electrolytes, polymers for separators and cathode and anode materials. The initiative will also cover traditional and next-generation lithium-ion chemistries, as well as non-lithium-ion technologies.

“By positioning the U.S. at the forefront of advanced battery manufacturing, we are creating high-paying jobs and strengthening our global economic leadership and domestic energy security, all while supporting the clean energy transition,” said US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

Before funding is issued, the DOE and the project developers will undergo a negotiation process, and the DOE will complete an environmental review. The DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind the selection for any reason during that time.

Read our latest insights on: