Funding from the Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York to advance U.S. battery supply chain resilience, national security, circular economy goals
Princeton NuEnergy, a leading innovator in lithium-ion battery recycling, has been awarded a SuperBoost grant from the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York. This funding will support PNE’s efforts to scale its patented low-temperature plasma-assisted separation process for direct recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries.
PNE’s breakthrough technology enables the repair and rejuvenation of cathode (CAM) and anode materials containing critical minerals, without the use of high-temperature furnaces or strong acids used in conventional pyro- and hydro- metallurgical processes. The result is a low-cost, energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable process that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, eliminates toxic waste streams, and produces materials with performance comparable to virgin sources.
With the SuperBoost grant, PNE will demonstrate the scalability of this process using pouch cells provided by upstream partners, advancing the company’s mission to create a circular supply chain for U.S. battery manufacturing and recycling. As battery demand continues to soar, scalable direct recycling solutions like PNE’s will be critical to reducing dependence on foreign supply chains, while improving domestic resilience and supporting U.S. national security objectives.
“This is not just about sustainability, it’s about securing critical infrastructure and materials here at home,” said Dr. Chao Yan, co-founder and CEO of PNE. “With the support of the Energy Storage Engine in Upstate New York, we are able to accelerate our scale-up efforts and bring circular economy solutions to the U.S. battery market faster and more cost-effectively.”
The SuperBoost program, a key initiative of the NSF Energy Storage Engine, is designed to accelerate time-to-market for transformative energy storage technologies by providing non-dilutive funding and access to technical support, industry partners and commercialization expertise.
“Battery recycling is a linchpin for achieving a more secure, sustainable, and scalable battery ecosystem in the U.S.,” said Fernando Gómez-Baquero, translation pillar director of the Energy Storage Engine. “Princeton NuEnergy’s innovation directly supports our mission to strengthen domestic battery supply chains and reduce reliance on overseas processing.”
Meera Sampath, CEO of the Energy Storage Engine in Upstate NY, added: “Our goal is to accelerate deployment of battery technologies that advance U.S. manufacturing and national security priorities. Princeton NuEnergy’s plasma-assisted direct recycling process reflects the kind of ingenuity and impact that the Engine was built to support.”
The Engine’s SuperBoost program continues to identify and support high-potential energy storage companies across Upstate New York and beyond, helping translate lab-scale innovations into commercially viable solutions that address critical national needs.
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