The Biden Administration released more than $192 million in funds to support battery recycling from consumer products, launch a battery research consortium and continue the battery recycling prize.
“With the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy storage projected to increase the lithium battery market by as much as ten-fold by 2030, it is essential to invest in sustainable, reduced-cost recycling of consumer batteries in support of a secure, resilient, and circular domestic supply chain for critical materials,” according to a Department of Energy press release.
The funding will also support the administration’s goal to have EVs make up half of all new vehicle sales in the US by 2030, according to the DOE.
“As of April 2023, more than 3.6 million plug-in electric vehicles have been sold in America, with more than half of those sold since President Biden took office. Battery costs have fallen more than 90% since 2008, and energy density and performance have increased rapidly,” according to the DOE.
The $125 million Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling, Reprocessing, and Battery Collection funding is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and is intended to expand the battery supply chain in the US. As a part of the program, among other things, states and local governments will find support to enhance their battery collection, recycling and reprocessing programs.
The Advanced Battery R&D Consortium is intended to support developing new solutions for the supply chain of critical raw materials for large-scale and EV batteries.
“Substantial R&D is required for new or alternative battery chemistries that can achieve lower cost and use more abundant materials,” according to the DOE. “The Advanced Battery R&D Consortium funding opportunity will provide up to $60 million to convene major manufacturers of electric drive vehicles in the U.S., universities, National Laboratory partners, mineral and material suppliers, and other key battery stakeholders.”
The Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize, which began in 2019, has awarded $5.5 million for battery recycling solutions.
“In recognition of its ongoing importance in informing larger battery recycling efforts, DOE is announcing $7.4 million to fund a new Breakthrough Contest, as well as Phase IV of the prize,” according to the DOE.
