Sila, a next-generation battery materials company, has commenced operations at its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, Washington. This facility specializes in producing silicon-carbon anode material, a key component designed to replace graphite in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and other consumer electronics.
Batteries utilizing Sila’s Titan Silicon technology boast a 20% increase in energy storage capacity compared to conventional batteries. The expansive 600,000 square-foot facility, situated on a 160-acre site in Eastern Washington’s arid region, initially targets production for 2 to 5 gigawatt hours of battery capacity.
Sila’s ambitious plans include scaling production to 250 gigawatt hours by the end of the decade, transforming the Moses Lake plant into the world’s largest anode production facility. The company has already secured partnerships with Mercedes-Benz and Panasonic, anticipating material shipments to customers starting next year.
This strategic move aligns with the Biden administration’s efforts to bolster domestic battery production and counter China’s dominance in the energy cell manufacturing sector. Sila received a $100 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2022 to support this initiative.
“This is not just about building a factory. It’s about closing the gap between innovation and manufacturing in America,” stated Gene Berdichevsky, Sila’s CEO and co-founder. Sila’s plans include employing up to 500 people at its Moses Lake location when fully operational and partnering with local institutions for workforce development programs.