Australian battery tech company Sicona Battery Technologies has received $45 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to build its first commercial-scale silicon-carbon battery anode material production facility in Wollongong, New South Wales. The facility will produce up to 230 tonnes per year of Sicona's SiCx material, which can boost lithium-ion battery energy density by over 20% and enable charging speeds more than 40% faster than conventional graphite anodes. The grant comes under the Australian Government's Battery Breakthrough Initiative, which aims to build domestic battery manufacturing capability and strengthen Australia's position in the global battery supply chain. Sicona has also entered an exclusivity agreement with BlueScope Steel to assess developing the facility within BlueScope's Port Kembla precinct. The project is expected to create up to 36 skilled manufacturing jobs and support local industry partnerships. Sicona's technology is designed to be compatible with existing lithium-ion battery production lines, giving it a clear pathway to customer qualification and offtake agreements. While electric vehicles remain a key market, the company is also targeting applications in AI data centers, power tools, defense, and robotics. This follows a May 2025 licensing deal with Himadri in India and plans for a larger 6,500 tonne per annum commercial facility.
