Dow announces intent to invest in new world-scale carbonate solvents facility in the U.S.

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Mar 25, 2024, 12:00 ET

Investment will serve increasing demand in the electric vehicle and energy storage markets in the U.S.
New world-scale production facility will capture a significant portion of carbon dioxide from its manufacturing processes
Project was selected for award negotiations by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations

MIDLAND, Mich., March 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dow (NYSE: DOW) announced today the intent to invest in ethylene derivatives capacity on the U.S. Gulf Coast, including the production of carbonate solvents, critical components to the supply chain of lithium-ion batteries. This investment supports growth in domestic electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage markets and builds on Dow's successful track record of growth projects, including the recent global alkoxylation capacity expansions expected to come online in the next two years in U.S. Gulf Coast and Europe.

Dow is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) and was selected for award negotiations to establish a world-scale carbonate solvents production facility for lithium-ion battery production on the U.S. Gulf Coast. The project is supported by agreements with customers, including leading EV original equipment manufacturers and electrolyte manufacturers.

This facility will capture more than 90% of the carbon dioxide from the ethylene oxide manufacturing process and will utilize it to produce carbonate solvents needed for the electrification of vehicles and to strengthen the U.S. power grid through energy storage. This investment is in line with Dow and the U.S. government's goals to enable reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the mobility and transportation sector by investing in supply chain resiliency for domestic battery and EV manufacturing.

"This announcement is an exciting proof point of Dow's Decarbonize & Grow strategy, paired with our MobilityScience™ capabilities and commitment to a sustainable future for the automotive industry," said Brendy Lange, Dow Industrial Solutions business vice president. "The support from the DOE is a critical enabler of this project, localizing the supply of low-carbon value-added products to help enable the clean energy transition while advancing the decarbonization of our own operations."

Carbonate solvents are an important component of the electrolyte inside lithium-ion batteries, which help to enhance battery performance and longevity, enabling the advancement and adoption of electric vehicle technology. They will expand Dow's high-performing MobilityScience™ portfolio to address Mobility industry challenges like decarbonization and improving EV performance.

As part of this investment, Dow is committed to enhancing its community in parallel. Dow will collaborate with new and existing partners in growing diverse suppliers, workforce development and education, economic development, and local and state government to address infrastructure needs.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) is one of the world's leading materials science companies, serving customers in high-growth markets such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility, and consumer applications. Our global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation, leading business positions and commitment to sustainability enable us to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. We operate manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employ approximately 35,900 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $45 billion in 2023. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. Learn more about us and our ambition to be the most innovative, customer-centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world by visiting www.dow.com.