The US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to accelerate battery science, bolster domestic critical materials supply chains, and expand workforce development in the energy storage sector.
The agreement will connect researchers from Argonne’s Advanced Energy Technologies (AET) directorate with UT Dallas’s Batteries and Energy to Advance Commercialisation and National Security (BEACONS) Centre. Established in 2023 with a $30 million award from the US Department of Defence, BEACONS focuses on energy storage solutions for academic research and industrial applications.
According to the joint statement, the partnership aims to address technology gaps in energy storage, promote domestic sourcing of critical materials, and strengthen the US battery manufacturing ecosystem. It also includes professional development initiatives for UT Dallas students, preparing a skilled workforce to meet the growing needs of the sector.
“By working together, we can create and upscale the development of critical materials and optimise battery systems,” said Jianlin Li, Director of Energy Storage and Conversion at Argonne. “This will help establish a more stable and competitive energy storage supply chain in the US.”
Claus Daniel, Associate Laboratory Director for Argonne’s AET directorate, emphasised that the collaboration will enhance existing ties between the two institutions, enabling joint efforts to drive scientific breakthroughs critical to US competitiveness and national security.
Paul Kearns, Director of Argonne National Laboratory, noted the long-standing research relationship between the partners. “Today’s MoU is the next step in expanding this collaboration. With our complementary strengths in science and engineering, we can make a greater impact on US prosperity and security through pivotal discoveries and transformative innovations,” he said.