POSCO Group Completes Production System for Silicon Anode Materials for Secondary Batteries

Comprehensive Completion of Upper and Lower Processes for 550t Annual Capacity
Silicon Anode Material Plant in Pohang on the 7th

POSCO Group has established a complete production system for silicon anode materials, a core next-generation secondary battery material.

POSCO Silicon Solution, a secondary battery materials business company under POSCO Group, held a comprehensive completion ceremony for the upper and lower process silicon anode material factory with an annual production capacity of 550 tons on the 7th at the Yeongilman Industrial Complex in Pohang, Gyeongbuk.

Since completing the lower process factory that coats silicon compounds using POSCO's proprietary technology in April this year, POSCO Silicon Solution has now completed the upper process that synthesizes oxide-based silicon within seven months. With the comprehensive completion of both upper and lower processes, POSCO Silicon Solution now possesses the entire production process from direct synthesis of silicon compounds to coating, enabling it to meet the performance requirements of battery materials demanded by customers, such as improved initial charge-discharge efficiency.

The completion ceremony was attended by Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang; Yang Geum-hee, Deputy Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do for Economy; Kim Il-man, Chairman of Pohang City Council; Kim Jun-hyung, Head of Secondary Battery Materials at POSCO Holdings; Ju Se-don, Director of Pohang Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST); and Lee Jae-woo, CEO of POSCO Silicon Solution.

Kim Jun-hyung said, "Silicon anode material is one of the next-generation materials being developed by POSCO Group," adding, "POSCO Silicon Solution will grow into a global company based on the newly completed factory and outstanding technological capabilities."

Silicon anode material is a next-generation anode material that can increase energy density by about four times compared to graphite anode materials currently mainly used in lithium-ion batteries, enabling longer electric vehicle driving ranges and shorter charging times. An annual production capacity of 550 tons corresponds to the amount needed to produce 275,000 electric vehicles.

To strengthen its anode material portfolio and proactively respond to increasing demand, POSCO Group acquired the silicon anode material technology startup Terra Technos in July 2022 and renamed it POSCO Silicon Solution. The company began construction of the silicon anode material factory in April last year and completed the lower process in April this year.

POSCO Silicon Solution has stably completed ramp-up in the early mass production stage and plans to obtain quality certifications from customers. It aims to establish an annual production system of 25,000 tons of silicon anode material by 2030.

According to POSCO Group's seven major future innovation tasks, including "Securing competitiveness and innovative technology in secondary battery materials," the group plans to strengthen competitiveness in next-generation secondary battery materials such as silicon anode materials, lithium metal anode materials, and solid electrolytes, as well as in raw materials for lithium and anode and cathode materials.