Department of Energy Issues National Blueprint for Lithium-Ion Batteries 2021-2030

As part of a larger effort to secure domestic supply chains for critical industries, on June 8, the Department of Energy (DOE) released its National Blueprint for Lithium Batteries, 2021-2030. The DOE established a vision for the lithium battery supply chain: “By 2030, the United States and its partners will establish a secure battery materials and technology supply chain that supports long-term U.S. economic competitiveness and equitable job creation, enables decarbonization, advances social justice, and meets national security requirements.” The blueprint was developed by the Federal Consortium for Advanced Batteries (FCAB) and sets forth five goals in support of the vision statement:

• Secure access to raw and refined materials and discover alternatives for critical minerals for commercial and defense applications.

• Support the growth of a U.S. materials-processing base able to meet domestic battery manufacturing demand.

• Stimulate the U.S. electrode, cell, and pack manufacturing sectors.

• Enable U.S. end-of-life reuse and critical materials recycling at scale and a full competitive value chain in the United States.

• Maintain and advance U.S. battery technology leadership by strongly supporting scientific R&D, STEM education, and workforce development.

DOE provided a breakdown of existing markets for lithium-ion batteries, including electric vehicles, stationary storage, aviation, and national defense.

The blueprint makes clear that DOE is prioritizing the widespread production, adoption, and use of battery storage in the United States in a variety of economic sectors. Further, the document discusses not just national and economic security concerns, but also the ability to tackle climate change and social equity concerns.

The release of the blueprint was followed by a June 14 virtual roundtable discussion, featuring Secretary Granholm and several representatives of American companies associated with the lithium-ion battery supply chain and the production of batteries. The blueprint can be downloaded here, and the roundtable can be viewed here.