The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced more than USD 192 million in funding for recycling batteries from consumer products, launching an advanced battery research and development consortium, and the continuation of the Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize.

DOE will allocate USD 125 million in Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling, Reprocessing and Battery Collection funding opportunities, which will cover the following topic areas:

• Develop and implement campaigns to increase battery recycling participation

• Enhance economics of consumer electronics battery recycling to drive market demand

• Support states and local governments in establishing or improving battery collection and recycling programs

• Help retailers implement programs to collect, sort, store, and transport consumer electronics batteries.

The Advanced Battery R&D Consortium funding opportunity will provide up to USD 60 million to advance battery R&D that is relevant and responsive to the needs of EV manufacturers and to further develop a domestic battery supply chain and recycling capabilities that are essential to meeting the rapidly growing demand for EV batteries.

The Department of Energy (DOE) will also allocate USD 7.4 million in a contest and Phase IV of the battery recycling prize. The contest encourages industry entrepreneurs, including new and former participants, to develop solutions that advance battery recycling goals, while Phase IV focuses on demonstrating the efficacy of these solutions in facilitating the transfer of used batteries from consumers to recyclers across different commercial uses.