The United States Department of Energy (DOE) has announced it will inject $63m in funding to advance domestic battery recycling and smart manufacturing.
The investment will enable the expansion of battery recycling capabilities at state and local levels while increasing access to smart manufacturing technologies such as advanced sensors and modelling.
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm commented: “America’s revolutionary clean energy future requires a modernised manufacturing sector, and the Biden-Harris Administration is helping us get there.
“The funding announced today will equip small- and medium-sized manufacturers with cutting-edge technologies to improve operations efficiency and expand battery recycling, removing barriers to advancement and bolstering the nation’s competitive standing.”
Battery recycling initiatives
Batteries are integral to our daily lives, and recycling them is crucial for sustainability.
Recovering minerals like cobalt, lithium, and graphite from spent batteries is both cost-effective and eco-friendly.
This initiative aims to collaborate with state and local governments to establish accessible battery recycling programmes at retail locations and community sites such as libraries.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $50m for state and local battery recycling programmes, with $41m designated for the second phase.
The first phase saw the selection of projects expected to generate over $14.4m in public and private investments.
The second phase will further empower state and local governments to enhance or create new battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing projects. This effort also emphasises community awareness and education.
Advancing smart manufacturing
Alongside battery recycling, the DOE is partnering with states to modernise the manufacturing sector through smart manufacturing technologies.
These advanced technologies improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality, making American firms more competitive globally.
Despite these benefits, many small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) face barriers such as high initial costs and a lack of training resources.
The State Manufacturing Leadership Program, funded with $22m for its second phase, addresses these challenges.
In the first phase, the DOE supported 12 state-led projects to help over 3,500 SMMs implement smart manufacturing practices, including high-performance computing.
The second phase aims to extend this support to more SMMs, providing resources like technical assistance, training, facility assessments, apprenticeships, and direct financial aid.
State entities can receive competitive funding awards of up to $2m per project over three years, with a required cost share of at least 23.1%.
This comprehensive approach ensures that both battery recycling and smart manufacturing initiatives are poised to deliver significant economic and environmental benefits.
