KORE Power Inc. will build the first lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility wholly owned by a U.S. company in Maricopa County, Arizona. The project is expected to create 3,000 new advanced manufacturing jobs.

The one million square foot manufacturing facility, dubbed the KOREPlex, will support up to 12 gigawatt hours of battery cell production to ensure a reliable and independent U.S. supply chain for lithium-ion battery cells that are critical to the future of electric vehicles, power grids and more, according to the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA).

The facility will have the capacity to produce enough power for 3.2 million homes each year. KORE plans to start construction of the facility by the end of the year with the goal of beginning production in Q2 2023. KOREPlex will operate with net-zero carbon emissions through strategic partnerships and solar-plus- and storage co-generation.

“We needed a location for our factory that had a track record of supporting energy storage, a growing clean transportation sector, and a workforce that could deliver American-made battery technology that the supply chain so desperately needs,” said Lindsay Gorrill, KORE Power CEO. “Arizona hit a home run. We’re fully committed to be a cornerstone of the state’s clean economy and we’re proud to bring advanced cell manufacturing home to the U.S.”

The new KOREPlex facility will add to the company’s current annual production capacity of 2 GWh that is in the process of scaling up to 6 GWh to serve the rapidly growing battery market. KORE Power’s U.S. facility will strengthen U.S. energy security by creating a new domestic battery supply.

“KORE Power’s expansion to Arizona will bring thousands of great-paying jobs to our state and will ensure that Arizona remains at the forefront of clean energy and battery cell development for decades to come,” said Senator Kelly. “As one of the nation’s top producers of clean energy technologies, KORE Power plays an important role in maintaining American energy independence. This investment in our electric vehicle infrastructure and climate resiliency will continue to advance Arizona’s leadership in the tech sector as well as help our nation achieve its renewable energy goals.”

KORE Power landed in Maricopa County after a national site search and evaluation of the energy storage, manufacturing and electric transportation opportunities across the country, ACA officials said. The Arizona site offered proximity to complimentary industries such as e-mobility, solar, semiconductor, and utilities, workforce and logistics capacity, and a pro-business tax and regulatory environment.