Green energy, metals and technology company Fortescue Energy has partnered with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to establish a battery plant in Detroit.

MEDC announced this week that the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) had approved support and incentives for Fortescue to establish a US advanced manufacturing center, which will be a major hub for its automotive and heavy industry batteries, fast chargers and electrolysers.

Fortescue plans to rehabilitate an existing facility in Detroit and prepare it for a future manufacturing and engineering workspace. 

Production is expected to start in 2025 and the site has the potential to create up to 600 jobs as product lines ramp up to 2030.

“Fortescue’s Advanced Manufacturing Center will breathe fresh life into the birthplace of the automotive industry,” comments Fortescue Energy CEO Mark Hutchinson.

“We are committed to investing in the next generation of green manufacturing projects that will help decarbonise business and heavy industry, and in turn create a strong future for manufacturing jobs in the United States,” Hutchinson added.

To support the project, the MSF approved a $9-million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant, a 15-year, 100% State Essential Services Assessment exemption valued at $1.3-million and State tax capture valued at $2.37-million for the reimbursement of brownfield activities at the site.

The City of Detroit Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is supporting the project through the local portion of the brownfield work plan valued at $4.25-million, and the city has offered an industrial facilities tax abatement valued at up to $7.68-million.

Fortescue through Fortescue WAE is a leader in the development and manufacture of batteries and zero emission powertrains for a wide range of applications, including motorsports, mining haul trucks, and other off-road an dautomotive applications, with production and manufacturing already based in the UK. Fortescue is also manufacturing electrolysers at a state-of-the-art facility in Queensland, Australia.