Anthro Energy, a Stanford spinout, next‑generation battery technology specialist focused on advanced polymer electrolytes, has entered a long‑term Master Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with EnPower, Inc., a US developer of lithium‑ion cell design and manufacturing.
The agreement sets out a multi‑phase partnership to jointly develop, produce, and scale high‑performance lithium‑ion cells within the United States, creating a fully domestic route from electrolyte chemistry to finished cell output.
The collaboration aims to strengthen the US battery supply chain by reducing reliance on overseas materials and manufacturing. Both companies expect to expand production capacity beyond 750 MWh, forming one of the largest advanced lithium‑ion cell platforms in the country outside the automotive sector. As Adrian Yao, CEO and Founder of EnPower, stated, “EnPower is strategically positioned to serve as an integrator of domestic battery technologies and a vector for rapid commercialization… We are excited to augment our platforms with [Anthro’s] advanced electrolytes to deliver to our customer needs.”
Demand for high‑performance, domestically produced batteries is rising sharply across defence, robotics, and autonomous systems. A 2026 industry report forecasts the AI and robotics market in aerospace and defence to grow from $26.9 billion in 2025 to $29.7 billion in 2026, driven by increased adoption of autonomous drones, robotics, and AI‑enabled defence platforms.
Under the Master MOU, both companies will progress through defined phases governed by separate Definitive Agreements. Their joint work includes high‑energy pouch cell designs exceeding 350 Wh/kg and high‑power cells for applications such as drones and AI datacentres. By combining EnPower’s U.S.-based electrode and pouch cell manufacturing expertise with Anthro Energy’s Proteus electrolyte platform, the partnership aims to deliver cells that support longer mission times, safer system designs, and operation in more demanding environments across air, land, and sub-sea terrains — all manufactured domestically. David Mackanic, CEO and Co‑Founder of Anthro Energy, said, “This partnership is about reindustrializing American manufacturing and rebuilding a domestic battery supply chain for the next generation of energy storage.”
Anthro Energy’s planned electrolyte facility in Louisville, Kentucky, located close to EnPower’s Indianapolis site, further anchors the partnership’s commitment to onshoring advanced battery production.
Image: Bottles of Anthro Proteus electrolytes. Credit: Anthro Energy
