GrafTech International Ltd. (NYSE: EAF) and Antora Energy have announced a strategic collaboration to develop and supply carbon-based materials for Antora's thermal batteries, according to a press release from the companies.

Under the agreement, GrafTech will produce carbon-based materials at its St. Marys, Pennsylvania facility for use in Antora's battery modules. The collaboration has already prompted GrafTech to restart eight bake furnaces at the site. The two companies have begun hiring new workers in St. Marys, with plans to add approximately a dozen more positions across plant operations, machining, and maintenance.

Antora's thermal batteries store low-cost electricity as heat in insulated blocks of solid carbon, which can then be delivered as heat or electricity. The company states its battery modules can serve chemical plants, food producers, steelmakers, and data centers.

Timothy Flanagan, CEO and President of GrafTech, said the partnership is expected to utilize a significant portion of the bake furnace capacity at St. Marys, adding a new application for the facility while diversifying GrafTech's end markets.

Andrew Ponec, Co-Founder and CEO of Antora Energy, said the arrangement strengthens the company's domestic supply chain.

The collaboration follows Antora's $550 million Series C funding round, which closed in late July. In May, Antora announced the commissioning of Project Big Stone, a large battery storage system currently delivering energy to POET at their Big Stone City, South Dakota facility.

The two companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding and intend to negotiate and execute definitive documentation. Final agreements remain subject to negotiated terms and conditions.