US awards $500m to seven critical minerals and battery projects

The United States Department of Energy (DoE) has allocated $500 million to seven companies engaged in critical minerals processing, battery recycling, and advanced battery material projects. This funding is the third round under the DoE's Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling programs, announced on August 20. The projects aim to expand domestic capacity, reduce reliance on foreign sources, and support energy, industrial, and defense applications.

Lilac Solutions will receive $100 million to build a lithium extraction and refining facility near the Great Salt Lake in Utah, utilizing direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. Jervois will also get $100 million for a cobalt refinery in Idaho, producing battery-grade cobalt sulphate. Nth Cycle will secure $100 million to establish a battery recycler in the southeastern U.S., processing black mass from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries using electro-extraction technology.

Princeton NuEnergy will receive $50 million for a demonstration facility in Georgia to recover and rejuvenate nickel-containing cathode material using a low-temperature plasma process. Coreshell Technologies will get $50 million to build US manufacturing capacity for silicon-anode Li-ion electrodes, replacing imported graphite with domestically sourced metallurgical silicon.

Arcanum Ventures will develop a Gulf Coast facility producing battery-grade ethylene carbonate, a key component in Li-ion battery electrolytes. Elevated Materials will receive $50 million for a facility producing ultra-thin lithium-metal films and pre-lithiated materials for higher-energy and faster-charging batteries.