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The U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is funding six teams with up to $15 million to create manufacturable prototypes of next-generation energy storage systems over the next two years.

The initiative, named JOULES-1K, aims to develop battery systems capable of achieving four times the energy density of current lithium-ion batteries. The program, which started 18 months ago with 13 teams, has narrowed down to six performers for the second phase.

Notably, Silicon Valley startup And Battery Aero will receive about $4 million to enhance battery technology specifically for drones. The project addresses the Pentagon's need for domestically manufactured energy storage solutions, reducing reliance on materials sourced from China. Other participating institutions include Johns Hopkins University, University of Maryland - College Park, Illinois Institute of Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Precision Combustion.