Himadri-backed Sicona secures AUD 45 million ARENA funding for battery technology

Himadri Speciality Chemical-backed Australian battery materials firm Sicona Battery Technologies has secured up to AUD 45 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to accelerate the commercialisation of its silicon-carbon anode technology for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.

The funding, awarded under ARENA's Battery Breakthrough Initiative, will support the construction and operation of a commercial-scale demonstration facility at BlueScope Steel's Port Kembla precinct in New South Wales. The plant will manufacture Sicona's proprietary SiCx silicon-carbon anode material for electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage batteries.

According to ARENA, Sicona's technology can increase battery energy density by up to 20% and enable charging speeds up to 40% faster than conventional graphite anodes, helping address key barriers to EV adoption such as charging times, driving range and battery costs. The material is also compatible with existing battery manufacturing infrastructure, reducing the need for major production changes.


ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the project would strengthen Australia's role in the global battery supply chain while supporting the development of next-generation battery technologies. Sicona's technology has already undergone independent testing and is being evaluated by global battery and EV manufacturers, he said.

The facility will validate Sicona's manufacturing process at a commercial scale and produce qualification samples for customers, paving the way for future offtake agreements.

The development strengthens Sicona's commercialisation plans and provides further impetus to Himadri's strategy of expanding its presence in advanced battery materials and the clean energy value chain.

In 2023, Himadri acquired a 12.8% stake in Australia's Sicona Battery Technologies for AUD 10.32 million and later increased it to 20 per cent. The company is also planning to establish India's first silicon-carbon anode material plant using Sicona's technology.