Group14 Technologies, a leading innovator in advanced silicon battery materials, has been awarded a potential $200 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains. This funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s initiative to expand domestic battery manufacturing, marks the second time Group14 has secured a major DOE grant. The company’s CEO and Co-Founder, Rick Luebbe, highlighted the importance of this project in securing the U.S. silicon battery industry, stating, “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.” The new silane factory, planned for Moses Lake, Washington, will directly supply this critical raw material to local silicon battery plants, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers and addressing a significant bottleneck in the industry. The project is poised to generate over 300 construction jobs and maintain 150 permanent roles for plant commissioning, ramp-up, and ongoing production.
Group14 is already a major player in the global battery materials market. Its existing factory in Woodinville, Washington, has been producing silicon battery materials at a commercial scale since 2021. The company has shipped its SCC55TM product to over 100 customers, representing 95% of global lithium-ion battery production. The upcoming BAM-2 facility in Moses Lake, with an initial annual capacity of 4,000 tons of SCC55TM (equivalent to 20 GWh of silicon battery material), is set to become the world’s largest production center for advanced silicon battery materials. The first phase of BAM-2, with a capacity of 2,000 tons (10,000 GWh), is expected to commence production in Q4 2024. This, combined with Group14’s joint venture in South Korea, puts the company on track to become a leading EV-scale mass producer of advanced silicon materials.
Group14’s innovative approach involves using its proprietary technology to produce silane at a significantly reduced capital and energy cost compared to traditional methods. This efficiency is crucial for large-scale production, enabling the company to offer competitive prices and contribute to the widespread adoption of silicon batteries. Silicon batteries offer significant advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries, including faster charging, lower cost, and improved performance for electric vehicles and renewable energy applications. The DOE’s support for Group14’s silane plant is a testament to the importance of strengthening domestic manufacturing and supply chains for crucial technologies like silicon batteries. This project is expected to play a vital role in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles and the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
