{"682665":{"#nid":"682665","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Power Play: The Global Stakes Behind the Battery Boom ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs electric vehicles and renewable energy storage become central to the global energy transition, the battery supply chain is under more pressure than ever. In 2024, global battery demand surpassed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.iea.org\/commentaries\/the-battery-industry-has-entered-a-new-phase\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E1 terawatt-hour\u003C\/a\u003E, equal to powering 100 million homes for an hour,\u0026nbsp;according to the International Energy Agency. But while demand is booming, the infrastructure to meet it \u2014 especially in the U.S. \u2014 is still catching up.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe U.S. Push for Battery Independence\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor years, the U.S. has relied heavily on foreign sources for battery components and materials. Now, with geopolitical tensions rising and clean energy goals looming, policymakers are trying to change that. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/house-bill\/5376\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EInflation Reduction Act\u003C\/a\u003E (IRA), passed in 2022, offered tax credits and incentives to boost domestic battery production. It also introduced restrictions to limit reliance on adversarial nations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThese policies, as well as support from state and local governments, have significantly accelerated battery manufacturing in the U.S.,\u201d said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.mse.gatech.edu\/people\/matthew-mcdowell\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMatt McDowell\u003C\/a\u003E, a mechanical engineering and materials science professor at Georgia Tech and Carter N. Paden Jr. Distinguished Chair for Innovation in Material Science and Metals Processing. \u201cBut we\u2019re still in the early stages of building a truly resilient supply chain.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/gleb-yushin\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGleb Yushin\u003C\/a\u003E, a professor at Georgia Tech and chief technical officer of battery materials company Sila, agrees. \u201cThe IRA\u2019s FEOC restrictions sent a timely, much-needed market signal to spur demand for battery materials made outside of China and, in turn, investments by cell makers into local suppliers,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStill, reshoring production is no small feat. \u201cIt\u2019s been great to see increased domestic production of graphite and other components,\u201d McDowell added. \u201cThis will result in more robust battery supply and lower prices in the long-term.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow New Materials Are Changing the Game\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile policy is one piece of the puzzle, innovation is another. For decades, graphite has been the go-to material for battery anodes. But researchers have long eyed silicon as a more powerful alternative \u2014 one that can store up to 10 times more charge.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe problem? Silicon swells dramatically during charging, which can damage the battery. \u201cIt expands by 300%,\u201d Yushin explained. \u201cThat\u2019s compared to just 7% for graphite.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter years of research, Sila developed \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.silanano.com\/our-solutions\/titan-silicon-anode\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ETitan Silicon\u2122\u003C\/a\u003E, a silicon-carbon composite that solves the swelling issue. \u201cIt offers 25\u201335% more energy density, over two times faster charging, and can be dropped into any production line,\u201d Yushin said. \u201cNow, the challenge lies in scaling this technology for mass production while staying ahead of market pressures.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESolid-state and lithium-sulfur batteries are also gaining attention for their potential to improve safety and performance. But while McDowell is excited about these technologies, he cautions that they\u2019re not yet ready for prime time. \u201cA key focus is developing scalable manufacturing processes to compete with lithium-ion batteries,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYushin is more skeptical of the benefits. \u201cSolid-state batteries require entirely new supply chains and infrastructure,\u201d he said. \u201cSilicon is a perfect replacement for lithium metal \u2014 it\u2019s stable, reversible, and compatible with existing infrastructure.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat It Will Take to Compete and Lead\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe IRA initially generated over $115 billion in clean energy investments, with $69 billion directed toward battery manufacturing. But with parts of the law now under threat of repeal, the future is uncertain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cNow that most of the IRA stands to be repealed, we will see if a tariff approach can spur the same results,\u201d Yushin said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of capital waiting on the sidelines. But without long-term certainty, it\u2019s hard to justify the risk.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also pointed to deeper structural issues. \u201cCapital intensity and the cost of borrowing are primary inhibitors of investment,\u201d he said. \u201cFirm purchasing of goods is required to secure financing, but uncertainty over tax credits has cooled demand for local supply.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcDowell believes the solution lies in a broader strategy. \u201cWe need to invest in workforce development, research, and infrastructure,\u201d he said. \u201cThis isn\u2019t just about batteries \u2014 it\u2019s about building an entire ecosystem.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;As the world shifts toward electrification, the nations that command the battery supply chain will define the future of mobility, energy, and economic influence. For the U.S., the challenge isn\u2019t just to keep pace \u2014 it\u2019s to lead the charge.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":" As the world shifts toward electrification, the nations that command the battery supply chain will define the future of mobility, energy, and economic influence. For the U.S., the challenge isn\u2019t just to keep pace \u2014 it\u2019s to lead the charge. "}],"uid":"35797","created_gmt":"2025-06-05 14:13:47","changed_gmt":"2025-06-24 13:15:31","author":"Siobhan Rodriguez","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-06-05T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"677191":{"id":"677191","type":"image","title":"AdobeStock_647691237.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1749132835","gmt_created":"2025-06-05 14:13:55","changed":"1749132835","gmt_changed":"2025-06-05 14:13:55","alt":"Image of a robot inserting lithium ion into a battery. ","file":{"fid":"261065","name":"AdobeStock_647691237.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/AdobeStock_647691237.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/06\/05\/AdobeStock_647691237.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":7941375,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/06\/05\/AdobeStock_647691237.jpeg?itok=WkvuBsuR"}}},"media_ids":["677191"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194539","name":"Battery supply chain"},{"id":"185112","name":"lithium-ion batteries"},{"id":"194540","name":"silicon anode"},{"id":"194541","name":"Titan Silicon"},{"id":"181588","name":"solid-state batteries"},{"id":"175832","name":"energy density"},{"id":"187224","name":"battery innovation"},{"id":"194542","name":"battery chemistry"},{"id":"194543","name":"EV batteries"},{"id":"194544","name":"battery manufacturing"},{"id":"194545","name":"gigafactories"},{"id":"194546","name":"graphite alternatives"},{"id":"175915","name":"electrification"},{"id":"194526","name":"critical minerals"},{"id":"194547","name":"global battery race"},{"id":"194548","name":"supply chain resilience"},{"id":"194549","name":"Foreign Entity of Concern"},{"id":"194550","name":"FEOC"},{"id":"194551","name":"Inflation Reduction Act"},{"id":"194552","name":"IRA"},{"id":"119981","name":"reshoring"},{"id":"194553","name":"energy independence"},{"id":"194554","name":"strategic materials"},{"id":"194555","name":"clean energy transition"},{"id":"194556","name":"domestic production"},{"id":"194557","name":"clean energy policy"},{"id":"194558","name":"industrial strategy"},{"id":"194559","name":"investment incentives"},{"id":"194560","name":"Section 45X tax credit"},{"id":"194561","name":"tariffs on EVs"},{"id":"194562","name":"local sourcing requirements"},{"id":"59541","name":"workforce development"},{"id":"194563","name":"infrastructure investment"},{"id":"41551","name":"public-private partnerships"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71911","name":"Earth and Environment"},{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESiobhan Rodriguez\u003Cbr\u003ESenior Media Relations\u0026nbsp;Representative\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:media@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Emedia@gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["sar30@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}