US-based silicon battery materials manufacturer Group14 Technologies has received a $200-million grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains to build a silane plant in the US to diversify and strengthen the US battery supply chain. Silane is a key component in the materials for lithium-ion batteries, especially silicon-based anode materials.

The DOE has awarded over $3 billion in investments for 25 selected projects across 14 states from funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support domestic production of advanced batteries and battery materials. 

The proposed Group14 facility will produce silane requiring less capital and energy than conventional processes, according to the company. It will be able to directly feed silane to multiple silicon anode powder manufacturers via pipeline or container, reducing a supply bottleneck for the industry.

“While the largest source of silane today is China, Group14 and other silicon battery companies must strategically source this critical raw material domestically to support EV-scale battery production and reduce foreign battery supply chain dependence. Approximately 80% of the largest available source of silane produced in the US is controlled by a single company and earmarked for solar polysilicon. Additional domestic silane capacity is required to develop the silicon battery industry,” Group14 said.

Source: US Department of Energy