Anthro Energy has broken ground on a $42 million manufacturing plant in Louisville that is set to start producing 12,000 tonnes of advanced polymer electrolyte annually from late 2027.

The facility will produce enough electrolyte to support up to 25GWh of lithium ion battery production for energy storage systems, mobility and other applications, the Silicon Valley-based company announced on August 19.

Construction at Louisville marks the firm’s transition from planning into execution and a key milestone toward boosting US manufacturing capacity for battery material, Anthro said.

The company, a spin-out from Stanford University, will manufacture its proprietary Anthro Proteus tech platform, which uses a ‘phase-change electrolyte’ that transitions from a liquid to a solid polymer within the battery cell.

The technology is claimed to improve battery safety, increase energy density and enable greater design flexibility while remaining compatible with existing Li-ion manufacturing infrastructure, Anthro said.

Louisville will be equipped with standard manufacturing equipment capable of producing multiple advanced electrolyte formulations.

Construction comes just months after the US Department of Energy gave the go-ahead to ‘fully execute’ the project, following a $24.9 million award to Anthro under the US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and $18.4 million in investment tax credits.

David Mackanic, CEO and co-founder of Anthro said: “By producing advanced electrolytes here in the US, we’re helping build a more resilient domestic supply chain while enabling the next generation of safer, higher-performing batteries.”