Dive Brief:
- Solvay Specialty Polymers plans to build an $850 million plant in Augusta, Georgia, to manufacture key lithium-ion EV battery parts, the company announced last Thursday.
- The polymer company will produce EV battery-grade binders and separator coatings made from polyvinylidene fluoride. With the new site, Solvay says it will have the largest production capacity of the lithium-ion chemical ingredient in North America.
- The project is a joint venture between Solvay and chemical manufacturer Orbia, which will supply raw materials. The companies plan to open two production sites, with both expected to be operational by 2026.
Dive Insight:
Solvay plans to branch into EV component production in Georgia, contributing to the state’s burgeoning business in the industry.
The Belgium-based chemical manufacturer said the joint venture would not only fill a “significant supply gap” for the EV battery part, but also build off “favorable conditions promoting regional production and material security.”
Last month, Solvay received a $178 million grant for the facility through the Battery Materials Processing and Battery Component Manufacturing and Recycling program, funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“We are proud to receive the federal government’s support for manufacturing technologies that will provide the U.S. with critical raw materials for building an independent, sustainable EV value chain,” President of Solvay Growth Initiatives and Chief North American Officer Mike Finelli said in a statement regarding the grant.
Other EV industry players have also made recent moves in the state. Rivian made the single largest economic investment in Georgia’s history last year with plans for a $5 billion EV production facility in East Augusta, according to the governor’s office. And last month, Hyundai broke ground on a $5.5 billion “mega campus” in Savannah, Georgia, where it will manufacture batteries and a diverse line of EVs.
EV component makers are taking note of Augusta in particular. Electrodeposited copper foil manufacturer Denkai America will locate its North American headquarters and new manufacturing facility in the area, focusing on EV battery foil.
