Deadline: 13-Oct-2025
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a significant funding opportunity under Section 40207 of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), aimed at strengthening domestic capacity in critical mineral and materials processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling.
With an allocation of up to $500 million, this initiative seeks to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign sources of essential minerals, enhance supply chain resilience, and bolster the nation’s energy independence.
This funding builds on a policy foundation laid by a series of executive orders focused on energy security and resource self-sufficiency. These directives highlighted the urgency of tapping into domestic resources for critical minerals, ensuring that the U.S. can sustain its energy systems and advanced manufacturing sectors without overdependence on external suppliers.
Through this opportunity, the DOE plans to support demonstration and commercial-scale facilities that process or recycle critical materials for use in energy storage and other advanced technologies. Eligible materials include widely used battery inputs like lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, and aluminum, as well as rare earth elements found in commercially available batteries. Successful projects will not only enhance the domestic supply of these critical inputs but also establish links to downstream U.S.-based manufacturers that can utilize the output.
Grants under this program will range between $50 million and $200 million, with project timelines expected to span from two to four years. A key condition of eligibility is compliance with national security priorities: applicants must not source battery materials from, or export critical materials to, any Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC), in line with DOE’s guidance issued in May 2024.
Overall, this funding initiative is a strategic move to consolidate America’s position in the global energy landscape. It supports the development of a secure and self-reliant critical minerals supply chain, fosters innovation in clean energy technology, and lays the groundwork for long-term economic and national security benefits.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
