The US Department of Energy (DOE) on Friday allocated over $3 billion for the domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials.

It selected 25 projects across 14 states which are expected to support over 8,000 construction jobs and over 4,000 operating jobs. These projects involve retrofitting, expanding, and building new domestic facilities for battery-grade processed critical minerals, battery components, battery manufacturing, and recycling. 

The new funding injection comes as part of the US government’s efforts to build a battery supply chain to diversify from Chinese manufacturing, Kallanish writes. 

According to the DOE, incentives launched under the Biden-Harris Administration have spurred private sector investment of $120 billion in the EV supply chain.

Companies receiving the funding include NanoGraf, an advanced silicon anode battery material producer, and Colorado-based Solid Power, which makes sulphide-based solid electrolyte materials for advanced all-solid-state batteries.

NanoGraf will use the $60 million grant to retrofit an existing manufacturing facility in Flint, Michigan. The project, with a capacity of 2,500 tonnes/year of silicon anode material, will support production of up to 1.5 million EVs annually.

“We view our selection for funding by the US Department of Energy as validation of the promise sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries hold,” comments John Van Scoter, president and ceo of Solid Power, which is receiving $50m to expand production capabilities at its facility.

“The Biden-Harris administration is using every available tool to onshore and friend-shore the supply chain for EVs and batteries, working with our allies and partners, for the benefit of our national security, our economy, and our planet,” says John Podesta, a senior advisor to President Joe Biden.