Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling

Overview

The Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling Program is designed to award grants for research, development, and demonstration projects to create innovative and practical approaches to increase the reuse and recycling of batteries.

Funding Amount
$125 Million

Funding Type
Grant

Area of Focus
Manufacturing Capacity

Eligible Uses

Research, development, and demonstration to address:

  • Recycling activities
  • The development of methods to promote the design and production of batteries that take into full account and facilitate the dismantling, reuse, recovery, and recycling of battery components and materials
  • Strategies to increase consumer acceptance of, and participation in, the recycling of batteries
  • The extraction or recovery of critical minerals from batteries that are recycled
  • The integration of increased quantities of recycled critical minerals in batteries and other products to develop markets for recycled battery materials and critical minerals
  • Safe disposal of waste materials and components recovered during the recycling process
  • The protection of the health and safety of all persons involved in, or in proximity to, recycling and reprocessing activities, including communities located near recycling and materials reprocessing facilities
  • Mitigation of environmental impacts that arise from recycling batteries, including disposal of toxic reagents and byproducts related to recycling processes
  • Protection of data privacy associated with collected covered battery-containing products
  • The optimization of the value of material derived from recycling batteries
  • The cost-effectiveness and benefits of the reuse and recycling of batteries and critical minerals.
Recipients
  1. An institution of higher education
  2. A National Laboratory
  3. A Federal research agency
  4. A State research agency
  5. A nonprofit organization
  6. An industrial entity
  7. A manufacturing entity
  8. A private battery-collection entity
  9. An entity operating 1 or more battery recycling activities
  10. A State or municipal government entity
  11. A battery producer
  12. A battery retailer
  13. A consortium of 2 or more entities described in clauses 1 through 12
Period of Availability

Available until expended.

Funding Source

This grant is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL 40207 (f)), a long-overdue investment in our nation's infrastructure, workers, families, and competitiveness. BIL includes more than $62 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to deliver a secure energy future for the American people.

 

Funding Details and Announcements

  • This funding is administered by DOE's Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) and the Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC). 

    On March 28, 2024, DOE announced the selection of 17 projects of which 6 projects for $7.2 million were with state and local governments to create or expand to collect, sort, store, and transport consumer electronics batteries and battery-containing devices. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $50 million for state and local programs. Please check back for more information on future rounds of funding.

    • Topic 1: Expanding Consumer Participation in Consumer Electronics Battery Recycling Programs
      Number of projects: 4 | Award Amount: $14,412,221
       
    • Topic 2: Improving the Economics of Recycling Consumer Electronics Batteries
      Number of projects: 7 | Award Amount: $40,130,899
       
    • Topic 3: State and Local Programs for Consumer Electronics Battery Collection, Recycling, and Reprocessing
      Number of projects: 6 | Award Amount: $7,215,393
       
    FEB 11, 2022
    Notice of Intent

    DE-FOA-0002677

    Download

    JUN 12, 2023
    Funding Opportunity Announcement

    DE-FOA-002897

    Funding Opportunity

    Press Release

    AUG 17, 2023
    Concept Paper Due
    NOV 29, 2023
    Full Application Due
    MAR 28, 2024
    Selections Announced

    Press Release

    Selections

  • This FOA is being reopened to solicit full applications for topic area 4 only. The submittal of concept papers is not required for Round 2 submittals to topic area 4.

    The objective of this topic area is to establish and/or implement programs with retailers that will provide battery collection. Programs can focus on any or all of these recycling steps such as collecting, handling, sorting, storing, and transporting spent and discarded batteries and electronics containing batteries. They do not need to address or propose industrial or chemical processes for recycling. Activities should address key challenges such as transportation; collection/storage; and overall communication, training, and public information. Each program must report on the number of battery collection points established or enhanced and the quantity of material collected.

    FEB 20, 2024
    Funding Opportunity Reopened

    DE-FOA-002897

    Funding Opportunity

    Press Release

    Webinar

    APR 9, 2024
    Full Application Due
    JUL 9, 2024
    Selections Announced

    Press Release

    Selections

    Webinar

  • In November 2024, DOE announced the selection of seven projects for negotiation of award to receive $11.5 million to support battery recycling programs at the state and local government level. These selections will work closely with state and local governments to make battery collection and recycling locations more convenient for consumers, increasing the number of materials to recycle and improving the nation’s battery recycling landscape. These build on earlier selections for battery recycling announced on March 28, 2024.

    AUG 1, 2024
    Funding Opportunity Announcement

    DE-FOA-0003376

    Funding Opportunity

    Press Release

    Webinar

    SEP 16, 2024
    Full Application Due
    NOV 22, 2024
    Selections Announced

    Press Release

    Selections

Informational Webinars

Aug 6, 2024 | Smart Manufacturing and Recycling Tactics for States Informational Webinar

 

Jul 11, 2024 | DOE Programs for Smart Manufacturing and Battery Collection & Recycling