The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced $63m in funding to help state and local governments expand battery recycling as well as make technologies such as advanced sensors and modelling more accessible to small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs).
According to a DOE press release, the funding will help the US move towards the Biden Administration’s ambitious goal of a net-zero economy by 2050, while helping to bolster domestic manufacturing.
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer M Granholm said: “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 SMMs with cutting edge technologies to improve operations efficiency and expand battery recycling, removing barriers to advancement and bolstering the nation’s competitive standing.”
The DOE said that it will help states and local governments create new recycling programmes and collection points that are easily accessible to all consumers.
The funding includes $41m for the second phase of the $50m granted by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for state and local government battery recycling programming. In the first phase, the DOE selected battery recycling projects that are expected to catalyse more than $14.4m in investment. The second phase will “boost state and local governments' ability to support state-wide and local battery recycling programs”, according to the press release.
Also included in the funding is $22m for the second phase of the $50m State Manufacturing Leadership Programme. The first phase saw the DOE award 12 projects to help 3,500 SMMs set up smart manufacturing technologies and practices, while the second phase will seek to reach even more SMMs.
The Biden administration has announced a range of clean energy funding opportunities in recent weeks as it reaches its final months in office. Just last week (29 July), the DOE’s Wind Energy Technologies Office announced the Offshore Wind National and Regional Research and Development Funding Opportunity, which will award $48.6m for offshore wind projects.
