11 Projects for Advancing Next-Gen Batteries in USA – CleanTechnica

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

---

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is investing $25 million into 11 projects focused on developing next-gen batteries and associated components. The announcement today from the DOE indicates that the funding goes toward projects focused on “advance materials, processes, machines, and equipment for domestic manufacturing of next–generation batteries.” In other words, they’re looking everywhere for ways to help battery innovation move along faster.

“These projects will advance platform technologies upon which battery manufacturing capabilities can be built, enabling flexible, scalable, and highly controllable battery manufacturing processes.”

Awardees include the following companies and laboratories:

---

Platforms for Next-Generation Battery Manufacturing

Subtopic 1 focuses on advanced processes and/or high-performance processing machines for low cost, large-scale, sustainable, commercial manufacture of sodium-ion batteries.

• AM Batteries, Inc. (Billerica, Massachusetts): $2.8 million
• Argonne National Laboratory (Lemont, Illinois): $1.5 million
• Clean Republic SODO LLC d/b/a Dakota Lithium Materials (Seattle, Washington): $2 million

Subtopic 2 focuses on design and manufacturing of flow battery membranes, as well as system design and manufacturing for scale-up of flow battery production and cost-effective integration of flow battery systems.

• Quino Energy, Inc. (San Leandro California): $2.6 million
• Arkema, Inc. (King of Prussia, Pennsylvania): $2.1 million
• University of Akron (Akron, Ohio): $1.6 million

Subtopic 3 focuses on scalable manufacturing processes and equipment for nanolayered films.

• University of Maryland (College Park, Maryland): $2.6 million
• Illinois Institute of Technology / Spraying System Co. (Chicago, Illinois / Glendale Heights, Illinois): $2.6 million

Smart Manufacturing Platforms for Battery Production

This topic emphasizes development of broadly applicable smart manufacturing platforms that can be leveraged to improve the production of a variety of battery technologies.

• Charge CCCV (Vestal, New York): $2.6 million
• American Lithium Energy Corp. (Carlsbad, California): $2.6 million
• Titan Advanced Energy Solutions (Salem, Massachusetts): $2.6 million

---

Will any of these turn into revolutionary breakthroughs? Even if they don’t, will they lead to a long march of incremental progress in batteries that helps to continue the transition to electric transport and sustainable energy?

There is still plenty of room to improve battery chemistries and battery production. It’s refreshing and uplifting to see an administration focused on these matters.

“For decades, America has been a leader in battery innovation, and under the Biden-Harris Administration we’ve built a foundation to keep this momentum growing into the next generation,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “The projects announced build on this success, enhancing our national security while delivering jobs for American workers for decades more to come.”

Of course, this $25 million is just a drop in the bucket when looking at the huge, broad approach to batteries the Biden administration has taken. And the broader battery market has become enormous. “Since President Biden took office, companies have announced more than $140 billion in investments in battery and critical mineral supply chains. DOE also recently announced over $3 billion for selected projects to boost the domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials nationwide,” the DOE writes. “Those selected projects will retrofit, expand, and build new domestic facilities for battery-grade processed critical minerals, battery components, battery manufacturing, and recycling.”

Regarding the projects noted above, you can read more about them here if interested.