Group14 Technologies, a next-generation battery materials startup based in Woodinville, Washington, announced $169 million in new funding and plans to build a manufacturing facility in Sagunto, Spain, with production targeted for mid-2029. The funding came from an unnamed European investor and extends the company's Series D round, bringing total funding to $1.26 billion.
The company has developed a silicon-carbon material that replaces graphite in lithium-ion battery anodes, enabling higher energy density and faster charging, according to the company. Group14 ships the material primarily to consumer-electronics customers and, Luebbe said, is pursuing automotive and data center applications.
CEO Rick Luebbe said the Spain facility is part of a strategy to build a global manufacturing network that already includes sites in Washington state and South Korea. “In order to be a global player in a global industry, we need a global footprint, which means it’s not about picking one specific region and going all in,” he told GeekWire. “We really need to grow all regions.”
Luebbe said the Sagunto site, near Valencia, offers clean energy, skilled chemical-industry labor and proximity to automotive customers. Spain is Europe’s second-largest vehicle producer after Germany. Group14 already has a European foothold through its 2023 acquisition of Germany’s Schmid Silicon Technology Holding GmbH, securing a source of silane gas, a key ingredient.
Luebbe noted that Europe, like the United States, is working to build domestic battery manufacturing and reduce reliance on Chinese supplies, and Group14 wants to be part of that effort. “Building chemical plants takes a long time, and so you’ve got to think ahead and be able to establish that global footprint and development strategy,” he said.
Group14’s other facilities are at different stages. Its BAM-1 factory in Woodinville has been operating since 2021. The BAM-2 plant in Moses Lake, Washington, partly funded by $100 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, has faced delays. The company now targets mid-2027 to bring the first module online, with the second module's completion date not yet set. “It’s a very complicated infrastructure, and it takes a lot longer than we had anticipated to do the final installation and commissioning,” Luebbe said. The company laid off an undisclosed number of workers in Washington in July 2025 and furloughed additional employees at Moses Lake in January as it shifted resources toward South Korea.
In South Korea, the BAM-3 facility, originally a joint venture with SK materials, has been producing anode material since 2024 and expects to reach its 2,000-ton annual capacity within about six months, Luebbe said.
Group14 is shipping primarily to consumer-electronics customers, which qualify new materials faster than automakers. Luebbe also sees a growing opportunity for battery backup units in data centers, where silicon-anode batteries could help smooth rapid spikes in AI-server power demand. “I’m anticipating data center batteries, battery backup units, to be the second biggest market for us behind EVs,” he said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The funding and Spain plant underscore the race to build a Western supply chain for advanced batteries, reducing dependence on Chinese manufacturers.
- Group14’s silicon-carbon anode material could enable faster-charging, longer-range EVs and more reliable data center power backup, affecting consumers and cloud infrastructure.
- The company’s delays at its Moses Lake plant highlight the challenges of scaling new battery technology, a critical factor for meeting climate goals.
Background
Group14 Technologies was founded in 2015 to develop a silicon-carbon composite that replaces the graphite anode in lithium-ion batteries. Traditional graphite anodes are nearing their theoretical energy limits, while silicon offers significantly higher capacity but has historically been difficult to stabilize. Group14’s material is already in commercial use for consumer electronics, and the company is working to qualify it for electric vehicles and grid storage. The startup has attracted over $1.2 billion in funding from investors including Porsche, BASF, and the U.S. Department of Energy.
What to Watch
- First module at the Moses Lake BAM-2 plant is expected online by mid-2027; a further delay could affect customer commitments.
- Production at the Spain facility is targeted for mid-2029; watch for site preparation and regulatory approvals.
- Scaling of the South Korea facility to full 2,000-ton capacity within six months will signal the company’s manufacturing readiness.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedGroup14 raised $169 million and plans a battery-materials factory in Spain.GeekWire: “Group14 Technologies today announced $169 million in new funding and plans to build a manufacturing facility in Spain”
- SupportedThe Washington state startup is targeting mid-2029 production in Sagunto as it expands its global footprint.GeekWire: “The new facility will be located in Sagunto, near Valencia, with production targeted for mid-2029.”
- SupportedRick Luebbe told GeekWire: “In order to be a global player in a global industry, we need a global footprint, which means it’s not about picking one specific region and going all in,” and “We really need to grow all regions.”GeekWire: ““In order to be a global player in a global industry, we need a global footprint, which means it’s not about picking one specific region and going all in,” Group14 CEO Rick Luebbe told GeekWire. “We really need to grow all regions.””
- SupportedLuebbe said: “Building chemical plants takes a long time, and so you’ve got to think ahead and be able to establish that global footprint and development strategy.”GeekWire: ““Building chemical plants takes a long time, and so you’ve got to think ahead and be able to establish that global footprint and development strategy,” Luebbe said.”
- SupportedLuebbe said: “It’s a very complicated infrastructure, and it takes a lot longer than we had anticipated to do the final installation and commissioning.”GeekWire: ““It’s a very complicated infrastructure, and it takes a lot longer than we had anticipated to do the final installation and commissioning,” he added.”
- SupportedLuebbe said: “I’m anticipating data center batteries, battery backup units, to be the second biggest market for us behind EVs.”GeekWire: ““I’m anticipating data center batteries, battery backup units, to be the second biggest market for us behind EVs,” he said.”
- SupportedThe funding came from an unnamed European investor, extends the Series D round, and brings total funding to $1.26 billion.GeekWire: “The funding came from a European investor, Luebbe said, but he did not name the firm. It extends the company’s $463 million Series D round and brings Group14’s total funding to $1.26 billion.”
- SupportedGroup14’s silicon-carbon material replaces graphite in lithium-ion battery anodes and enables higher energy density and faster charging, according to the company.GeekWire: “The startup has developed a silicon-carbon material that replaces graphite in lithium-ion battery anodes, enabling higher energy density and faster charging, according to the company.”
- SupportedThe Sagunto site is near Valencia and Luebbe said it offers clean energy, chemical-industry labor and proximity to automotive customers.GeekWire: “Luebbe said the site offers clean energy, skilled labor from the chemical industry and proximity to automotive customers”
- SupportedThe BAM-2 plant in Moses Lake received funding that included $100 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and its first module is now targeted to come online in mid-2027.GeekWire: “In 2023, it broke ground on BAM-2 in central Washington’s Moses Lake with funding that included $100 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. [...] Luebbe said this week that the company is now targeting mid-2027 to bring the first module online”
- SupportedGroup14 laid off an undisclosed number of Washington workers in July 2025 and furloughed additional employees at Moses Lake in January as it shifted resources toward South Korea.GeekWire: “Group14 laid off an undisclosed number of Washington workers in July 2025 and furloughed additional employees at Moses Lake in January as it shifted resources toward South Korea.”
- SupportedThe BAM-3 facility in South Korea has produced anode material since 2024 and expects to reach its 2,000-ton annual capacity within about six months, according to Luebbe.GeekWire: “Group14’s BAM-3 site in South Korea — which originally began as a joint venture with SK materials — has been producing anode material since 2024. The facility has been scaling up and expects to reach its 2,000-ton annual capacity within about six months, Luebbe said.”
