The Department of Energy (DOE) has allocated nearly $30 million in taxpayer funding to two Nevada-based companies to bolster lithium battery production, a significant step in advancing domestic energy initiatives.
The lion’s share of the funding, approximately $19.6 million, has been designated for American Battery Technology (ABTC) in the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center. This substantial investment is to facilitate the construction of a battery recycling facility.
Meanwhile, Albemarle, near Tonopah at the Silver Peak Project, will benefit from a $9.3 million injection to expand lithium carbonate production. The initiatives align with the DOE’s Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Tax Credit, emphasizing innovation and efficiency in the energy sector.
ABTC’s milestone achievement includes the completion of construction and commissioning of its lithium hydroxide (LiOH) pilot plant, a groundbreaking development in lithium resource utilization. The pilot plant’s operation allows ABTC to showcase its processes at the Tonopah Lithium Flats Project, creating battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
Traditionally, lithium products originate from conventional resources such as hard rock spodumene materials. However, ABTC’s Tonopah Flats Lithium Project harnesses over 10,000 acres of lithium-bearing claystone resources.
Looking ahead, ABTC plans to scale up its operations, constructing a commercial-scale refinery capable of producing 30,000 tons of lithium hydroxide annually. Additionally, the company is advancing its battery recycling operations with de-manufacturing processes and chemical extraction techniques to recover battery materials.
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