On November 15, 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $3.5 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to boost domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials.[1] The funding is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and will create new, retrofitted, and expanded domestic facilities for battery-grade processed critical minerals, battery precursor materials, battery components, and cell and pack manufacturing. The opportunity is administered by DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). This funding opportunity is the second phase of $6 billion in total provided by the BIL. In the first phase, the DOE awarded fifteen projects that could catalyze over $5.8 billion in public/private investment. This next phase will boost domestic battery materials processing as well as battery production. The DOE said it will prioritize projects that create jobs for low- and moderate-income communities and support the administration’s Justice40 Initiative, a plan that 40% of overall benefits from federal investments go to underserved communities.

The DOE will prioritize next-generation technologies and battery chemistries in addition to lithium-based technologies. Other focus areas include precursor production and manufacturing for medium- and heavy-duty vehicle markets. The department said it “is also calling for projects that will increase separation of battery-grade critical materials, expand production facilities for cathode and anode materials production, and expand battery component manufacturing facilities (i.e., projects that will attract further investment into topic areas solicited in the program’s first phase).” Concept papers are due January 9, 2024, while applications are due March 19, 2024.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-35-billion-strengthen-domestic-battery-manufacturing