Charged EVs | Anthro Energy clears DOE phase approval for 12,000-ton lithium-ion battery electrolyte plant in Louisville

Anthro Energy has received authorization from the US Department of Energy to advance its Louisville, Kentucky electrolyte manufacturing facility into the construction phase—clearing the path for what the Stanford spinout calls the first large-scale, US-owned advanced electrolyte production facility.

The approval unlocks the next phase of a $24.9 million DOE grant awarded under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Combined with $18.4 million in IRA Section 48C investment tax credits, the project has secured roughly $43 million in federal support total.

The Louisville site will convert an existing building into a 25 GWh-capacity production hub capable of producing approximately 12,000 metric tons of polymer electrolytes annually. Anthro says it will use FEOC-free (Foreign Entity of Concern-free) inputs from day one—a direct pitch to customers trying to disentangle from Chinese battery supply chains, which currently dominate electrolyte production.

The product is Anthro’s Proteus platform, advanced polymer electrolytes designed to improve performance, safety and design flexibility in lithium-ion cells. Target markets include defense, consumer electronics, mobility platforms, and energy storage systems.

With planning milestones complete, the next phase covers construction, equipment installation, hiring, and supplier integration. Groundbreaking is anticipated for mid-2026.

“We are moving quickly—from technology development to full-scale manufacturing — to ensure that next-generation battery materials are produced here in the United States,” said David Mackanic, CEO and co-founder of Anthro Energy.

Source: Anthro Energy