Sicona Battery Technologies has secured a funding boost of up to A$45 million ($31 million) to demonstrate manufacturing of its advanced silicon-carbon battery anode material in Australia.

The funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), announced on June 29, will help support the construction and operation of a commercial-scale demonstration facility in the Illawarra region of New South Wales.

Sicona claims its silicon-carbon battery anode (SiCx) material is produced using a mechanical process that is safer, more scalable and lower cost than incumbent silane-based approaches. 

Silicon carbon material has over 4.5x the capacity of graphite with equivalent first cycle efficiency, surface area, and tap density, according to the company.  SiCx is a ‘drop-in’ product that requires no changes in the current battery production processes and is fully compatible with next-gen dry electrode technology.

Samples of SiCx produced at the demonstration plant will be sent for advanced sampling aimed at helping Sicona to secure offtake agreements with battery and EV manufacturers worldwide.

Sicona says SiCx is designed to deliver an “unmatched” increased charging rate of +40%, +20% increase in energy density over conventional graphite-only Li ion cells.

Sicona founder Christiaan Jordaan said the project also shows Australia can do more than export critical minerals.

“We can manufacture advanced materials, create skilled jobs, and compete in the high-value battery supply chains that will power the global energy transition.” 

Sicona is backed by Indian conglomerate Himadri Speciality Chemical. The companies announced a partnership agreement last year that included a A$15 million investment by Himadri to support development of SiCx in Australia.

The partnership includes a licensing deal, under which Himadri is set to establish and operate a SiCx production facility in India.

Batteries International reported earlier this year that Australia’s battery materials recovery sector had the potential to be worth around A$7 billion to the national economy by 2050.