Group14 Technologies, a global leader in advanced silicon battery materials, has been selected for an award negotiation of up to $200 million by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. The funding, provided under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to expand domestic battery manufacturing for electric vehicles and the electrical grid.
This is the second time Group14 has been chosen for a DOE grant under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, following a $100 million award in 2022.
“The largest global source of silane today is China, so the supply of silane gas in the U.S. must be increased to secure the U.S. silicon battery industry,” said Rick Luebbe, CEO and Co-Founder of Group14 Technologies. “A new silane factory in Washington state will allow Group14 and other silicon battery companies in the U.S. to source this critical raw material domestically, supporting EV-scale battery production and reducing foreign battery supply chain dependence.”
The project involves the installation, commissioning, and operation of a U.S.-based silane manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 7,200 metric tons. Silane gas is a crucial raw material for producing silicon-based battery materials at commercial scales.
The DOE award would enable Group14 to build the silane factory using its proprietary technology, which produces silane with significantly reduced capital and energy requirements compared to conventional processes. Located in Moses Lake, Washington, the facility will directly supply silane to local silicon battery plants, addressing a critical bottleneck in the industry. The project is expected to create over 300 construction jobs and retain 150 employees for commissioning, ramp-up, and ongoing production.
Group14 is expanding its global manufacturing capabilities. Its Battery Active Materials (BAM-1) factory in Woodinville, Washington, has been producing at scale since 2021, delivering shipments of SCC55™ to more than 100 customers representing 95% of worldwide lithium-ion battery production.
The company’s BAM-2 factory in Moses Lake is projected to be one of the world’s largest facilities for advanced silicon battery materials, with an initial annual capacity of 4,000 tons of SCC55™, equivalent to 20 GWh of silicon battery material. The first 2,000 tons (10 GWh) of capacity from BAM-2 is expected to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2024. Combined with its joint venture in South Korea, Group14 aims to be a leading mass producer of advanced silicon materials for electric vehicles, with over 30 GWh of production capacity.
Source: PR Newswire
