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US Department of Energy Awards $16M to Advance Solid-State Battery Manufacturing, Including Solid Power Partnership

Department of Energy USA
Overview
The US Department of Energy (DOE), through its FY23 AMMTO Battery Manufacturing Lab Call, provided a total of $16 million to address key barriers in large-scale domestic solid-state battery production. This funding supports the development of advanced tooling, precision manufacturing techniques, and process technologies required for pilot-scale mass production. Notably, national labs like ORNL, NREL, and SLAC, along with private firm Solid Power, are collaborating to accelerate solid-state battery commercialization through public-private partnerships.
In Depth

Key Findings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a substantial funding allocation of $16 million through its FY23 AMMTO Battery Manufacturing Lab Call program. This initiative aims to overcome critical barriers to large-scale domestic all-solid-state battery (ASSB) production. The funds will be strategically invested in developing advanced tooling, precision manufacturing techniques, and process technologies essential for pilot-scale mass production of ASSBs. Notably, this project involves a significant collaboration between national laboratories and the private sector, including Solid Power.

Technical Details

The DOE’s funding is specifically directed towards three main project areas. The first focuses on developing technologies to enable a seamless transition from ASSB R&D to high-volume manufacturing. The second aims to enhance precision manufacturing techniques for large-format cell production, which is crucial for ensuring the performance uniformity and reliability of ASSBs. The third area concentrates on developing process technologies designed to improve ASSB productivity and validate scalability. Participating in these projects are leading U.S. national laboratories such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, providing state-of-the-art research facilities and expertise. Furthermore, Solid Power, a pioneer in solid-state battery development, joins as a partner, contributing its specialized knowledge and commercialization perspective. This collaborative effort is expected to foster a consistent development cycle from fundamental research to applied science and eventual industrialization.

Background & Context

All-solid-state batteries are the subject of intense global competition as a next-generation battery technology that promises to extend electric vehicle (EV) range, enhance safety, and shorten charging times. The United States is actively pursuing strategies to strengthen its domestic manufacturing capabilities in this strategically critical technology sector, aiming to remain competitive with leading Asian nations like China, Japan, and South Korea. This substantial DOE funding is part of the ‘Biden Administration’s Battery Grand Challenge,’ aimed at bolstering the domestic battery supply chain and improving global competitiveness. By focusing on resolving manufacturing process challenges, this initiative signals a shift from a predominantly materials-research-centric approach to one addressing practical bottlenecks for commercialization.

Strategic Significance & Outlook

The DOE’s $16 million funding is expected to significantly accelerate the commercialization of all-solid-state battery technology within the U.S. The collaboration between national laboratories and private entities like Solid Power provides an effective model for rapid transfer of research outcomes to industry. Successful completion of these projects should lead to the domestic production of higher-performance, safer, and more cost-effective all-solid-state batteries, facilitating widespread adoption in applications such as EVs, renewable energy storage systems, and defense. Ultimately, this initiative will contribute significantly to the U.S.’s transition to a clean energy economy and the establishment of its global leadership in battery technology.

Source: https://www.energy.gov/cmei/ammto/fy-2023-strengthening-domestic-capabilities-battery-manufacturing-lab-call

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