(Updates throughout with additional details from the US Department of Energy.)
The US Department of Energy's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation said Thursday that $500 million in grants will expand critical mineral processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling capacity in the US.
The selected projects support President Donald Trump's Unleashing American Energy executive order by strengthening US critical-mineral supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign sources, the CMEI said.
"For too long, America has depended on foreign actors for critical materials essential to modern life that underpin our economy, energy security, and national security," said US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.
Reuters first reported Thursday that the US Energy Department awarded $500 million to seven companies developing domestic lithium, cobalt and battery projects, citing a department document.
Seven companies will receive grants under the third round of DOE's battery materials processing and battery manufacturing and recycling programs, which support battery processing, recycling and manufacturing projects.
Nth Cycle will receive $100 million for a Southeastern US facility that refines black mass from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and turns manufacturing scrap into high-purity metals and battery-grade materials.
Princeton NuEnergy will receive $50 million to build a demonstration facility in Georgia to recover and rejuvenate nickel-containing cathode material from battery manufacturing scrap using a low-temperature plasma process.
Arcanum Ventures will receive $50 million to build a US Gulf Coast facility that produces battery-grade ethylene carbonate, a key ingredient in lithium-ion battery electrolytes, using proven chemical-processing technology.
Elevated Materials will receive $50 million to build a US facility producing ultra-thin lithium-metal films and prelithiated materials for higher-energy, faster-charging batteries, scaling pilot technology to gigawatt-hour production.
Coreshell Technologies will receive $50 million to establish US manufacturing capacity for silicon-anode lithium-ion electrodes and cells, using domestic metallurgical silicon instead of imported graphite.
Lilac Solutions will receive $100 million to develop a direct lithium extraction facility at Utah's Great Salt Lake, targeting a 2028 opening and annual production of 5,000 metric tons.
Jervois will receive $100 million to build the US' only cobalt refinery in Idaho, adding domestic processing capacity for a critical battery material and reducing reliance on foreign supply.