The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced more than $192 million in new funding for recycling batteries from consumer products, launching an advanced battery research and development (R&D) consortium, and the continuation of the Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize, which began in 2019. With the demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and stationary energy storage projected to increase the lithium battery market by as much as ten-fold by 2030, it is essential to invest in sustainable, reduced-cost recycling of consumer batteries in support of a secure, resilient, and circular domestic supply chain for critical materials. Today’s announcement supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to have EVs make up half of all vehicle sales in America by 2030 and builds on the nearly $3 billion announced to date from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for EV and battery technologies.
“The United States is leading the way in developing advanced battery technologies that will power our clean energy future and boost our global competitiveness,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, these investments in battery production and recycling will ensure the U.S. has a secure and sustainable domestic supply chain and strengthens our economy.”
As of April 2023, more than 3.6 million plug-in electric vehicles have been sold in America, with more than half of those sold since President Biden took office. Battery costs have fallen more than 90% since 2008, and energy density and performance have increased rapidly.
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is growing the American economy from the bottom up and middle-out – from rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure, to creating a manufacturing and innovation boom powered by good-paying jobs that don’t require a four-year degree, to building a clean-energy economy that will combat climate change and make our communities more resilient.
Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling Funding Opportunity
DOE’s $125 million Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling, Reprocessing, and Battery Collection funding opportunity is an essential part of the $7 billion authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to grow and secure America’s battery supply chain. Topic areas funded through this opportunity will:
- Develop and implement education and/or behavior change campaigns to increase participation by consumers in existing battery recycling programs,
- Improve the economics of recycling consumer electronics batteries to spur greater market demand for battery recycling,
- Assist states and local governments in establishing or enhancing battery collection, recycling, and reprocessing programs,
- Help retailers implement programs to collect, sort, store, and transport consumer electronics batteries.