Silicon Valley Startup Aims To Fill A Battery Supply Chain Gap

Silicon Valley startup Anthro Energy is moving to close a U.S. gap in advanced battery supply chains. The company broke ground last week on a Kentucky factory that, when it starts operating in 2027, will be the first U.S.-owned and -operated producer of battery electrolytes. Its focus is a liquid polymer electrolyte designed to improve safety, power density and usable life versus conventional volatile, flammable electrolytes. CEO David Mackanic says it aims to slow degradation at the electrolyte interfaces. Anthro, spun out of Stanford research and based in Alameda, California, can currently make about 200 kilograms per day at small scale. Full production at Louisville could reach 12,000 metric tons—enough for about 25 GWh—ramping toward late next year through 2028.