Batteries and Energy Storage to Advance Commercialization and National Security (BEACONS)
About BEACONS
BEACONS aims to build a sustainable future for the nation through energy storage, innovation, education, and collaboration. BEACONS formed as the organization overseeing the UT Dallas and Leap Manufacturing Energy Storage Systems Campus, a $30 million award from the Department of Defense to bridge the gap between research and commercialization and identify key supply chain issues in domestic battery manufacturing by focusing on research, innovation, workforce development, and commercialization.
Industry Engagement
BEACONS partners with key domestic battery supply chain industry members to understand core challenges and innovate national solutions. Thanks to the Department of Defense (DoD), companies and startups can engage in the BEACONS ecosystem and participate in various events, connections, and battery testing and production.
Energy Storage Systems Campus
Funded by the Department of Defense’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy, through its Manufacturing Capability Expansion and Investment Prioritization (MCEIP) office, the BEACONS Energy Storage Systems Campus (ESSC) will provide US government organizations and the US energy storage industry with the technology, infrastructure, and workforce critically needed for a resilient domestic supply chain and manufacturing base, from raw materials such as critical minerals through finished energy storage systems. This one-of-a-kind Energy Storage Systems Campus is designed to reshore the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries and assist in developing new capabilities in new battery chemistry, production, and workforce via a range of performers. Core focuses include:
- Prototyping Facility: Opening in early 2025, the BEACONS Battery Prototype and Commercialization Center will provide gram to kilogram scaling of battery chemistries for market production, produce pouch and cylindrical cells, provide R&D expertise, apply AI/ML for advanced manufacturing, and connect battery innovations to industry partners and investors. The prototyping facility is a 15,000 SF space with a 3,500 SF dry room, 400 SF solid electrolyte room, lab area, offices, and conference room spaces.
- Current and Next-Gen Systems Optimization: The battery R&D line and battery materials scale-up facilities will enable the rapid transitions of lab-scale battery technologies toward commercial battery technology development. Current Li-ion batteries are produced as pouch cells and cylindrical cells (18650 and 21700) for commercial technology validation, and diverse next-gen batteries (including solid state, Na-ion and Zn-ion batteries) are developed in close collaboration with industry partners.
- Critical Minerals: UT Dallas and LEAP Manufacturing have partnered with Associated Universities Inc. (AUI) to develop state-of-the-art market forecasting and sourcing tools for the critical minerals and materials that form the building blocks of batteries. Utilizing geospatial analysis, network tracing, and predictive AI, these interconnected tools will improve transparency in mineral and chemicals markets and enable the development of a secure, robust battery supply chain for the United States and its allies abroad.
- Workforce Development: Using an already developed and tested framework, UT Dallas works with five local community college partners to increase engineering technology degree and certificate output to continue to build the workforce for domestic battery manufacturing. UT Dallas is also launching an energy certificate and undergraduate battery course as specialized training is necessary to build the national energy storage talent pipeline.