The global market for silicon anode battery materials is forecast to exceed US$15 billion by 2035. Due to the need for higher energy density and faster charging battery technologies, the battery electric car market will be the primary driver behind silicon anode material adoption. Silicon can help improve both of these performance characteristics. Cell-level Li-ion energy densities above 1000 Wh/l and 400 Wh/kg, and charging times as low as 10 minutes become possible with the next generation of silicon anode technologies. But despite their promise, by weight, production capacity for silicon anode material constitutes <2% of the Li-ion anode market. This is due to the fact that including silicon anode material can have a substantial detrimental effect on cycle life and lifetime, meaning that when incorporated, it is currently only done so as an additive. The IDTechEx report “Silicon Anode Battery Technologies and Markets 2025-2035: Players, Technologies, Applications, Markets, Forecasts” provides an in-depth analysis and discussion of silicon anode technologies, the silicon anode market, key players and start-ups, and provides forecasts on silicon anode adoption.
Significant investment into the development of silicon anodes has driven technological progress, allowing silicon adoption at higher weight percentages and in a higher volume of batteries. Numerous companies, from start-ups to established materials companies and industrials are expanding their capabilities to meet the growing demand for silicon anode material. IDTechEx estimates that silicon anode material production capacity is due to expand 6.5x from 2024 to 2030.
Production capacity for silicon anode battery materials is expected to grow quickly over the next 5-6 years. Source: IDTechEx.
Production capacity for silicon anode materials will be led by China but the US and South Korea look set to follow relatively close behind. In the US, numerous pure-play silicon anode companies are aiming to produce commercial material at scale within the next few years. Others are also looking to establish production in the US to access IRA credits, though the ongoing commitment of a new administration to supporting a US-based battery and EV industry remains uncertain. South Korea is also becoming a hub of activity with established players such as Daejoo Electronic Materials and POSCO expanding their silicon anode production capabilities, amongst other player activity. For example, Group14 Technologies commissioned the first of their 2 ktpa factories in Korea in September 2024 in a joint-venture with SK Inc, while UK-based Nexeon are also constructing ktpa scale production facilities in South Korea to access silane gas supplies and the Korean battery industry.
Difficulties remain for widespread adoption of silicon anode material, ranging from technical challenges, supply chain difficulties, and the price premium likely to be seen for silicon materials over the medium-term. Nevertheless, the strong long-term outlook for electric vehicles, coupled with improving silicon anode technologies and growing production capacities highlights the strong growth potential for silicon anode materials and technologies.
IDTechEx’s new report, “Silicon Anode Battery Technologies and Markets 2025-2035”, provides analysis into the various silicon anode technologies being developed and covers the start-ups and established companies active in developing silicon anode materials. Forecasts for the silicon anode market are provided by silicon technology (silicon-additive, mid-silicon, high-silicon), application (battery electric cars, commercial EVs, and electronic devices), and region (China, US, Europe, global).
