Cooperative Agreement DEMS0000049

Electroflow Technologies, Inc. (doing business as Lit) received a $305,000 Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships program (CFDA 47.084) on October 1, 2025. The project, with a completion date of March 31, 2026, will deliver research and feasibility assessments focused on developing an electrochemical process to extract and convert lithium from low-concentration brine into...

The Department of Energy awarded a $20,000,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain Demonstrations and Commercial Applications program (CFDA 81.253) to Sparkz Inc. to establish the first domestic production of battery-grade iron (III) phosphate (FePO4) at commercial scale in West Virginia. This critical precursor material is essential for the production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode active material, which supports the growth of the U.S. lithium-ion...

The Department of Energy's Office of Science awarded a $206,500 Project Grant to Storagenergy Technologies Inc., a woman-owned small disadvantaged business located in Salt Lake City, Utah. The grant supports the company's research and development of an eco-friendly electroextraction process to extract lithium metal from brines, as part of the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049). This grant-funded project aims to advance scientific understanding and develop innovative...

The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Albemarle U.S., Inc. a $147,126,520 Project Grant under the Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain Demonstrations and Commercial Applications program (CFDA 81.253) to retrofit a domestic manufacturing facility to produce up to 50 metric tons per annum of lithium metal anode for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. This project, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to support the production of materials for the light and non-light duty...

Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary Princeton Critical Minerals, Inc. received a $1.555 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Fast-Track Cooperative Agreement from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP) program (CFDA 47.084), awarded on August 15, 2025, with completion targeted for July 31, 2028. The company will develop and advance an evaporative lithium transport and extraction technology platform designed to extract critical minerals...

The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded Urbix, Inc., a minority-owned and small disadvantaged business, a $357,438,175 Project Grant under the Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain Demonstrations and Commercial Applications program (CFDA 81.253). The grant supports Urbix's commercial-scale production of lithium-ion battery anode-grade coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG) from natural flake graphite. The project aims to rapidly expand domestic capabilities for CSPG production to meet...

The Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy awarded Bher Minerals LLC a $29,795,810 cooperative agreement under the Conservation Research and Development program (CFDA 81.086) from July 1, 2021 through March 31, 2023. The award will support Bher Minerals' project to electrolytically produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate from geothermal brine in Des Moines County, Iowa. The Conservation Research and Development program aims to conduct long-term research...

This federal Project Grant award of $499,320 was provided by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), CFDA 81.135, to Lithios Inc. located in Medford, MA. The funding supports the development of "Advanced Lithium Extraction (ALE)", a new electrochemical technology to selectively extract lithium from difficult feedstocks with high purity. The goal is to help overcome limitations in current lithium extraction methods and support more sustainable and domestic lithium...

This Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) provides $650,214 to the University of Nevada, Reno to study lithium enrichment in volcanic caldera systems. Principal investigators Drs. Harlaux and Ruprecht will analyze melt and fluid inclusions in volcanic rocks from the McDermitt Caldera using electron microprobe, LA-ICP-MS, and SIMS to determine how lithium progressively enriched in magmas and was partitioned into volatile phases during magma...

The California Department of Conservation is awarded a $456,954.10 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Geological Survey under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (CFDA 15.073) to conduct geological mapping and geochemical analysis in areas with potential for lithium resources in southeastern California. The project aims to produce 1:24,000-scale digital geologic maps for portions of the western Cady Mountains and the Daggett 7.5 quadrangle. These mapping activities, along with compiling...