The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Mar. 13 a Notice of Funding Opportunity for up to $500 million to expand domestic processing, manufacturing, and recycling of critical minerals and battery materials.
This funding aims to strengthen the United States’ supply chain for batteries used in defense, grid resilience, transportation, manufacturing, and other industries. The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on foreign sources for essential materials needed in advanced technologies.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, “For too long, the United States has relied on hostile foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials that are essential in battery manufacturing and materials processing. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Energy is playing a leading role in strengthening these domestic industries that will position the U.S. to win the AI race, meeting rising energy demand, and achieve energy dominance.” Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson added from Japan during meetings with regional allies at the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum: “I am delighted to be in Japan meeting with our allies, underscoring the important connection between critical materials and energy security. Critical minerals processing is a vital component of our nation’s critical minerals supply base. Boosting domestic production, including through recycling, will bolster national security and ensure the United States and our partners are prepared to meet the energy challenges of the 21st century.”
The funding opportunity supports demonstration or commercial facilities focused on processing raw feedstocks into battery-grade materials, recycling battery components from scrap or end-of-life products, and increasing domestic capacity for strategic battery technologies. A webinar providing more information about this opportunity will be held at 1:00 PM ET on March 26.
This announcement follows several recent DOE initiatives aimed at advancing clean energy technology development. On July 21, 2022, the department announced a $225 million program funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to implement updated building energy codes nationwide. That same day, Secretary Jennifer Granholm released a video encouraging international cooperation on clean energy transitions ahead of the Global Clean Energy Action Forum.
DOE has also highlighted technology development’s role in environmental management missions before Congress according to testimony by William White. Additionally, innovative processes such as using crushed marble for groundwater remediation have been applied at DOE sites as reported by DOE Office of Environmental Management.
Further supporting decarbonization efforts in transportation sectors,the department announced $96 million for expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure and cleaner engine technologies in July 2022. In addition,DOE launched over 140 programs supporting President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative aimed at delivering clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities.
Non-binding letters of intent for this new funding opportunity are requested by March 27 at 5:00 p.m., with full applications due by April 24.
