HOUGHTON, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Houghton-based technology company is getting millions of dollars to expand its business east.
Revex Technologies will receive $145 million from the Department of Energy and up to $50 million from the Make it in Michigan Competitiveness Fund to build three facilities in Marquette to support manufacturing and production of batteries for electric vehicles. It’s expected to create 115 new jobs, retain 425 jobs, and support 360 construction jobs over a two-year period.
“Obtaining this funding would not have been possible without the dedicated support from the team at MTEC SmartZone,” said John Rockwell, CEO of Revex Technologies, in a press release. “Michigan has seen amazing startup successes from small satellite thrusters to software security, but the Revex project is unique in their its immediate impact of job creation and retention, technological innovation, and a strong focus on sustainable reshoring of critical minerals.”
According to the press release from the MTEC SmartZone, the grant will be used to support Revex’s REV Nickel Project, a project that supports a partnership between Revex and Eagle Mine, owned and operated by Lundin Mining of Canada and the only operating nickel mine in the United States, to produce Green Nickel Concentrate and other valuable U.S.-sourced critical minerals from metal-bearing waste streams, including discarded mine tailings and spent lithium-ion batteries.
The Eagle Paste Facility will utilize commercial floatation technology to process mine wastes containing residual nickel to produce paste backfill and nickel iron sulfide, the reClaim facility will utilize commercial fluidized bed roasting and reduction technology to produce approximately 21,250 tonnes per annum (tpa) of green nickel concentrate from the Paste Facility output, and the reCover facility will utilize commercial grinding and mechanical separation technologies to produce 16,000 tpa black mass containing extract cobalt, nickel, and lithium from spent batteries.
“The impact Revex Technologies will have on the sustainable reshoring, and responsible processing of critical metals needed for the nation’s clean energy transition will be enormous,” said David Rowe, CEO of MTEC SmartZone, in a press release. “MTEC SmartZone worked diligently for over two years to help establish Revex Technologies including helping Michigan Technological University secure an $8.1 million Department of Energy grant to further related technology. Countless hours of work were invested in support of Revex Technologies’ grant application to the DoE.”
Revex is one of four companies in Michigan to receive funding from the DOE and Competitiveness Fund. Governor Whitmer says the funding aims to expand manufacturing of batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage and ultimately help the state achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
“Michigan is leading the future of clean energy and competing to bring manufacturing jobs and supply chains back home,” said Governor Whitmer. “With this historic funding from the Biden-Harris administration and our congressional delegation, we are expanding our production of batteries for electric vehicles and clean energy storage, solidifying our position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and clean energy. We will continue to compete for and win federal funding to build on our momentum, add to the 40,000 auto jobs we have already secured since I took office, and keep leading the future of advanced manufacturing. Let’s get it done.”
