Sicona secures $45m grant for NSW battery anode production

Australian battery technology firm Sicona Battery Technologies has secured a $45 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to build and operate a commercial-scale silicon-carbon battery anode production facility in the Illawarra region of NSW.

As part of this, Sicona and BlueScope Steel Limited have entered into an exclusivity agreement to assess the potential development of the facility within BlueScope's Port Kembla precinct.

The new facility will scale production of Sicona’s advanced silicon-carbon battery anode material, SICX, to produce up to 230 tonnes per annum for advanced customer qualification and commercial sales.

The SiCx technology improves lithium-ion battery performance by increasing energy density by over 20 percent and enabling charging speeds over 40 percent faster than conventional graphite, the company claims.

It is also compatible with existing lithium-ion battery production lines, giving Sicona a clearer pathway to customer qualification, offtake agreements, and commercial-scale supply with global battery and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The ARENA grant will be delivered under the Australian Government’s Battery Breakthrough Initiative, which supports the growth of domestic battery manufacturing capability and strengthens Australia’s position in the global battery supply chain.

The grant comes as Sicona moves from technology development into commercial scale-up, with its materials also being developed for applications across AI data centres, power tools, defence, robotics, and other high-performance battery markets in addition to electric vehicles.

“ARENA’s support is a major endorsement of Sicona’s technology, our team, and Australia’s ability to build globally relevant battery materials manufacturing capability,” Christiaan Jordaan, founder and CEO of Sicona Battery Technologies, said.

“It also shows Australia can do more than export unprocessed 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.”

The development of the Wollongong facility is expected to create up to 36 skilled manufacturing jobs and support workforce development, training, and local industry partnerships.

It follows a May 2025 licensing and strategic partnership with Himadri in India, including an AU$17.5 million follow on investment, and comes as Sicona is also planning a 6,500 tonne per annum commercial facility, with longer-term expansion potential to 26,500 tonnes per annum.