UT Dallas Battery Initiative Funded by $30 Million Dept. of Defense Grant

UT Dallas Battery initiative funded by DoD is a three-year award for creating a prototype Energy Storage Systems Campus. The research facility shall be called the Batteries and Energy to Advance Commercialization and National Security (BEACONS) Center.

Project goals are “to develop and commercialize new battery technologies and manufacturing processes, enhance the domestic availability of critical raw materials, and train high-quality workers for jobs in an expanding battery energy storage workforce.” The project will stimulate and support over $200 million in private capital.

Key partners of the UT Dallas Battery Initiative

The key partners of the battery technology initiative include LEAP Manufacturing, a consortium of energy storage companies; AUI (Associated Universities Inc.); the University of Chicago, and the University of California, Berkeley.

The BEACONS Center’s main goals

Enhancing existing battery systems, automating, and integrating into manufacturing.
Development of new battery chemistries to reduce the use of scarce raw materials such as lithium.
Tracking and identifying supply chain challenges for critical minerals used in battery manufacturing.
Identifying workforce needs and provide training of research and manufacturing personnel.
Advancing battery technologies by providing access to facilities for entrepreneurs.

UT Dallas Battery Initiative Research Facility

The UTD-led initiative will include the construction of a research facility within a 1,200-acre area of the Richardson Innovation Quarter. The facility will have space for developing and manufacturing next-generation batteries. The aim is to develop new battery chemistries that reduce the use of scarce raw materials. Energy storage solutions are tailored to defense applications but will also benefit the commercial industry.

Employee Development: Battery Technology Initiative

UT Dallas Battery Initiative will partner with community colleges in North Texas to train future employees with a range of skills. Texas is a national leader in renewable energy technologies including wind and solar. Expanding its position into energy storage innovation and capacity demonstrates the state’s commitment to U.S. energy independence. Technological advancement with workforce development will lead to economic growth and national security.

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