Supermaterial applications company Lyten on Oct. 15 said it will invest more than $1 billion to build what it called the world’s first lithium-sulfur battery gigafactory.

The plans were announced amid continued efforts in the U.S. to increase domestic battery cell production and reduce reliance on foreign countries.

Located near Reno, Nevada, the manufacturing facility will be capable of producing up to 10 gigawatt hours of batteries annually when it reaches full scale, the California-headquartered company said. Targeting a 2027 first phase startup, the factory will produce cathode active materials (CAM) and lithium metal anodes. Lithium-sulfur battery cells will be assembled on-site in cylindrical and pouch formats.

“Today is the latest milestone in Lyten’s nine-year history,” Lyten Co-Founder and CEO Dan Cook said. “Lithium-sulfur is a leap in battery technology, delivering a high energy density, light weight battery built with abundantly available local materials and 100% U.S. manufacturing.”

Lyten’s lithium-sulfur battery doesn’t contain nickel, cobalt or manganese—which are tight in the supply chain. The company said its cells are up to 40% lighter in weight than lithium-ion batteries, and they pack a high energy density using materials that include waste product sulfur and natural gas. Sourced from natural gas, Lyten’s 3D Graphene is a key ingredient of its lithium-sulfur batteries.

The company has been manufacturing CAM and lithium metal anodes and assembling batteries at its semi-automated pilot facility in San Jose, California, since May 2023.

The 1.25 million-sq-ft Nevada facility will be located in the Reno AirLogistics Park on land owned by the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority, according to a news release. Lyten said it is working with Dermody Properties and the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority to finalize contractual terms to support breaking ground in early 2025.

The Reno factory is part of the company’s plans to expand in the micromobility, space, drone and defense markets in 2024 and 2025. Lyten announced in September that its lithium-sulfur battery cells were selected by the U.S. Department of Defense for demonstration aboard the International Space Station. The batteries will be tested for applications such as satellites, space suits and extravehicular activities, the company said.

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