Exploring Advanced Manufacturing and Onshoring Trends in Battery and Renewable Energy

Find out what was discussed – download the event summary from our Future Leaders Network event held on Thursday 30 May 2024 in New York (Scroll down for link)

What was the event about?

As the United States accelerates its commitment to a sustainable future under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Investment Tax Credit (IRA), the spotlight is on non-recourse finance as a catalyst for innovation in the battery and renewable manufacturing sector. Pioneering initiatives like the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (DOE LPO) are reshaping the landscape, providing crucial financial support to propel groundbreaking projects forward. However, navigating this path is not without its challenges. The industry grapples with issues such as weak offtakes, where uncertainties in demand can create hurdles in securing financing.

Objectives Discussed: 
– Explored the diversity of the growing market, which includes more than batteries
and solar panels.

– Understood how industrial policy aims to increase national security by nearshoring
advanced manufacturing and critical supply chains.

– Understood how industrial policy aims to bridge the gap between R&D and
commercialization and ultimately drive down the cost of critical technologies.

– Understood key challenges in adapting project finance to the specific challenges of
manufacturing projects.

With thanks to our speakers:

– Moderator: Jonathan Leape, Senior Infrastructure Advisory Consultant, Arup
– Kathrin Heitmann, vice President – Senior Credit Officer Project and Infrastructure Finance, Moody’s Investors Service
– Derek Warnick, Co-Founder and CFO, Electric Hydrogen
– Jean Lee, Partner, A&O Shearman
– Johannes Van Der Tuin, Senior Consultant, Origination Division, DOE Loan Programs Office

We’d also like to thank Arup for hosting the event.