NanoGraf, an advanced silicon anode battery material company, announced that it has been awarded a $60 million grant from the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) fund supporting new and expanded commercial-scale domestic battery manufacturing projects.
Additional matching grant dollars may also become available to fund the project from the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund, administered through the Michigan Infrastructure Office.
NanoGraf will use the grant, in addition to its own capital, to retrofit an existing manufacturing facility in Flint, Michigan. At full capacity, the advanced production facility will produce 2,500 tons of NanoGraf’s proprietary silicon anode material yearly — enough material to supply 1.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) per year.
The combined $175 million investment, with additional funds coming from NanoGraf, will create one of the world’s largest silicon anode facilities, significantly advancing U.S. efforts to onshore the battery supply chain and enhancing the performance of domestically made lithium-ion batteries.
The project will create approximately 200 construction jobs through a project labor agreement with the North American Building Trades Union. Up to 150 new permanent jobs will be created for operations, approximately 80% expected to come directly from the local community. NanoGraf has signed a neutrality agreement with the United Steelworkers and is committed to partnering with them should a majority of employees wish to be represented by the union.
The company’s Michigan expansion will include the rollout of a community benefits program focused on workforce development, education, apprenticeships, and comprehensive benefits that reflect the needs of the community.
The Flint factory is NanoGraf’s third battery material production facility and increases the company’s total manufacturing footprint to over 414,000 square feet. NanoGraf currently produces silicon anode material for the US military out of two Chicago-based manufacturing facilities.
Filed Under: Batteries, Technology News