Dive brief:
- Battery separator maker Microporous plans to build a $1.4 billion plant in Danville, Virginia, according to a Press release of November 13.
- The plant will produce separators for lithium ion batteries used in electric vehiclesenergy storage systems and consumer electronics in the North American market, Brad Reed, vice president of corporate development, said in an email to Manufacturing Dive. The upcoming facility will create 2,015 jobs and production is expected to begin in 2026.
- The company will develop the project in two phases, with each phase comprising approximately 500,000 square feet, with the potential to expand to more than 2 million square feet, Reed said. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025.
Diving knowledge:
The next project is slated to receive a grant of up to $100 million through the Department of Energy, the agency announced. in December 2023 under the corporate name MP Assets Corp.
The grant will help the company to expand its wet-process polyethylene lead-acid battery separator technology to improve electric vehicle supply chain production.
“The lithium ion battery separator market is strategically important to Microporous as it represents the fastest growing segment in rechargeable batteries,” said Reed.
The grant is expected to create 282 jobs with a guarantee that 85% of full-time employees will be from disadvantaged local communities, according to Microporous. December 2023 press release.
In addition to federal funding, the project is eligible to receive up to $60.6 million from the state’s Investment and Employment Project Approval Commission incentive due to the large investment and number of company jobs, according to the release.
The battery separator maker will receive up to $25 million from the Virginia Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission to bring major natural gas service to the project, according to the release.
The next plant will be located on Lot 1 of the Southern Virginia Megasite, a development strategically located near an industrial highway with no weight restrictions, providing significant benefits for Microporous and its customers, Reed said.
“This is a significant addition to Virginia’s corporate community and investment in Pittsylvania County from what we expect to be a major user of the Port of Virginia,” said Stephen Edwards, CEO and Executive Director of the Virginia Port Authority in a statement “Microporous has a lot of work ahead of it and the port is ready to help this company succeed, grow and move its products to markets around the world.”
Microporous has two other manufacturing plants, one located near its headquarters in Piney Flats, Tennessee, and the other located in Fiestritz, Austria. according to the website.
