Elevated Materials wins $50M DOE grant to build 3.5 GW battery material plant
What's the deal? Elevated MaterialsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a California-based maker of ultra-thin lithium film, has secured a $50 million grant from the US Department of EnergyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to fund half of a planned 3.5 GW battery material production facility. The matching funds arrive through the department's Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Grants program, which requires selected companies to cover 50% in private cost share.
Why now? The award was part of a larger $500 million package the Energy Department distributed in August across seven domestic projects aimed at expanding US critical mineral and material processing. The department's backing helps fully fund Elevated Materials' $100 million facility budget.
What's the endgame? The plant will focus on commercialising lithium-metal films and prelithiated materials as a new domestic source. Prelithiation introduces lithium ions into electrode materials to offset capacity loss and boost energy density before assembly.
Elevated Materials' proprietary ELi lithium-metal films target first-cycle capacity loss to extend battery lifespan. It says the films support advanced anode designs across electric vehicles, consumer electronics, defence and aviation, and grid-scale storage.
By the numbers: The company marked its first anniversary in February, having shipped to more than 30 customers worldwide, including over 100 kilometers of lithium film to a single client. The exact location and timeline of the new plant are still to be determined.
"The United States has made advanced battery manufacturing a national priority, and securing a domestic supply of critical materials that significantly increases energy density is central to that effort," said chief executive officer Jim Cushing in a statement. Cushing said the company developed its technology in California with support from the department's R&D programs.
The signal: The grant ranks among the largest for US semiconductor and materials awards of its kind, sitting in the 96th percentile of comparable grants. It reflects a broader federal push to onshore battery supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign critical materials.
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
