Dive Brief:
- Synthetic graphite maker Anovion Technologies plans to invest $800 million in a manufacturing facility in Bainbridge, Georgia, the company announced last week.
- The company’s first large-scale facility is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons of synthetic graphite annually for lithium-ion batteries.
- “Not only does existing infrastructure make Southwest Georgia an attractive location for Anovion’s new facility, but the proximity to other battery and EV manufacturing plants will allow us to further reduce our carbon footprint,” CEO Eric Stopka said in a statement.
Dive Insight:
In addition to its proximity to other auto-related plants, the 1.5 million-square-foot facility will be near low- and carbon-free energy sources, as well as offer short supply chains and access to rail infrastructure.
“Anovion conducted a thorough search to identify a location that addressed our energy, transportation, logistics, and human capital needs that would ensure we have the ecosystem in place to produce the highest quality and sustainable synthetic graphite anode material on the market today,” Stopka said in a statement.
Operations are expected to come online in late 2025. The company plans to hire for over 400 jobs in technical, production, and engineering roles as well as administrative and management positions, according to a state news release.
The synthetic graphite maker received $117 million from the Department of Energy last year under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will go toward building the new Georgia facility, as well as expanding its hydro-powered manufacturing facility in Sanborn, New York. The expanded site will provide support and research in addition to production.
Since the company received its federal grant in October, it has begun signing supply deals with battery makers. In November, Anovion Technologies partnered with American Battery Factory to supply the battery maker materials for its lithium-iron phosphate battery production network.
Anovion Technologies will be in good company in Georgia among other auto and component manufacturers. Hyundai Motor Group is building its EV and battery manufacturing hub near Savannah, and battery maker SK On announced plans last month for a $5 billion EV battery manufacturing facility in Bartow County.
