Celgard, a developer of materials for use in lithium-ion batteries, is one of the big winners among firms selected to receive $2.4 billion in grants from the U.S. Department of Energy.Celgard, which operates a manufacturing facility in Charlotte, will receive $49 million to be used for expansion of its batter separator product. The company also will open a plant in Aiken, S.C.
Celgard is expected to create hundreds of jobs at the facilities, according to Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who announced the grant Wednesday in Charlotte. Celgard is a subsidiary of Polypore International.
Last December, Celgard received a $2.3 million contract from the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium to develop separator technology.
Three other firms also received grants, which President Obama and other administration officials disclosed in a series of press conferences from Florida to Michigan. Progress Energy, which is based in Raleigh, will participate in a project related to electric vehicles in Florida.
Other grants in the region:
• Toda America, Goose Creek, S.C.: $35 million for production of nickel-cobalt-metal cathode material for lithium-ion batteries.
• Chemetall Foote Corp., Kings Mountain, N.C. and Silver Peak, N.V.: $28.4 million to production of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.
• Exide Technologies, Columbus, Ga. And Bristol, Tenn.: $34.3 million for production of advanced lead-acid batteries, using lead-carbon electrodes for micro and mild hybrid applications.
Georgia Tech and the state of South Carolina will also share in two grants for advanced electric drive vehicle education programs.
Source : LocalTechWire, August 5th, 2009
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire