ED25HDQ0G0004
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Led by the University of South Carolina (USC), the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation (CIBI) will bolster grid resilience by catalyzing SC Nexus' battery energy storage system (BESS) ecosystem through investments in pilot manufacturing infrastructure and workforce programming.
Accelerating time to market for BESS technologies is critical to securing the U.S. grid by enabling enhanced load stability and outage recovery.
Activities to be performed:
1. USC, Fraunhofer, and Siemens will collaborate to design and install a pilot manufacturing line at the USC Columbia campus which will enable testing and commercialization of battery energy storage systems (BESS) technologies.
2. Design and create a digital analog of the physical pilot manufacturing line to aid with configuration and performance optimization over time.
3. Provide smaller scale manufacturers (SSMs) access to manufacturing infrastructure to integrate into production processes and test performance of BESS innovations.
4. Develop and deliver a MS-level curriculum that intimately integrates battery design and manufacturing.
5. Develop and deliver a two-year degree in battery technician training.
Expected outcomes: CIBI's programming will support economic and national security by accelerating the supply of domestically produced grid-scale battery technologies and the workforce necessary to deploy them.
With the combined support of key players in South Carolina's battery ecosystem, CIBI will also firmly position the state as a global hub of grid-scale battery technologies within the next ten years.
Accelerating time to market for BESS technologies is critical to securing the U.S. grid by enabling enhanced load stability and outage recovery.
Activities to be performed:
1. USC, Fraunhofer, and Siemens will collaborate to design and install a pilot manufacturing line at the USC Columbia campus which will enable testing and commercialization of battery energy storage systems (BESS) technologies.
2. Design and create a digital analog of the physical pilot manufacturing line to aid with configuration and performance optimization over time.
3. Provide smaller scale manufacturers (SSMs) access to manufacturing infrastructure to integrate into production processes and test performance of BESS innovations.
4. Develop and deliver a MS-level curriculum that intimately integrates battery design and manufacturing.
5. Develop and deliver a two-year degree in battery technician training.
Expected outcomes: CIBI's programming will support economic and national security by accelerating the supply of domestically produced grid-scale battery technologies and the workforce necessary to deploy them.
With the combined support of key players in South Carolina's battery ecosystem, CIBI will also firmly position the state as a global hub of grid-scale battery technologies within the next ten years.
Awardee
Funding Goals
NON-CONSTRUCTION - FY23 REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HUB PROGRAM PHASE 2
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Columbia,
South Carolina
29208-3403
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
University Of South Carolina was awarded
Grid Resilience Boost: USC-led CIBI for BESS Innovation
Project Grant ED25HDQ0G0004
worth $10,218,140
from Economic Development Administration in November 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Columbia South Carolina United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years 10 months and
was awarded through assistance program 11.039 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs.
$1,377,000 (12.0%) of this Project Grant was funded by non-federal sources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity FY 2023 Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program Phase 2 Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/29/25
Period of Performance
11/15/24
Start Date
9/30/28
End Date
Funding Split
$10.2M
Federal Obligation
$1.4M
Non-Federal Obligation
$11.6M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
ED25HDQ0G0004
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
None
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
1331K5 DEPT OF COMMERCE EDA
Funding Office
1331K5 DEPT OF COMMERCE EDA
Awardee UEI
J22LNTMEDP73
Awardee CAGE
4B489
Performance District
SC-06
Senators
Lindsey Graham
Tim Scott
Tim Scott
Modified: 8/29/25