January 13, 2025: The US has announced an investment of $25 million for 11 projects designed to boost production of next-generation battery technologies for applications including grid energy storage.

The Department of Energy funding, announced on December 19 with just weeks to go before the Biden administration leaves office, aims to support advance materials, processes, machines, and equipment for domestic manufacturing.

The projects will be managed by the US Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office.

They cover development of a mix of battery technologies including sodium ion and flow batteries, plus manufacturing of nanolayered films for energy storage and advancing li-ion battery electrode manufacturing.

Energy secretary Jennifer Granholm said companies had announced more than $140 billion in investments in battery and critical mineral supply chains since the Biden administration entered office.