Toronto-based NEO Battery Materials has been selected as a consortium partner in a $20 million recycled silicon battery project led by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE).
The initiative, titled “Recycled Silicon-Based High Energy Density Electrode Manufacturing Technology Development,” aims to advance sustainable silicon anode materials for longer-lasting, rapid-charging lithium-ion batteries.
The five-year project is funded by MOTIE and the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) and involves leading companies across the battery value chain. Hansol Chemical, a major South Korean chemical firm, spearheads the consortium, joined by INNOX eco-M, South Korea’s largest cathode materials producer, and battery developer LiBEST. NEO will contribute as a downstream participant.
A key focus of the project is utilizing silicon scrap from semiconductor and photovoltaic wafer production to address waste material limitations. Consortium partners aim to enhance the affordability, performance, and sustainability of silicon anodes, a critical component for next-generation batteries.
NEO’s role will involve optimizing recycled silicon inputs and collaborating with partners to develop high-content silicon anode batteries. The initiative aligns with the company’s strategic goal of securing low-cost, high-performance silicon feedstock.
Spencer Huh, NEO’s President and CEO, emphasized the importance of material circularity and supply chain resilience. “With approximately 900 tons of waste silicon produced annually in South Korea, all consortium partners are motivated to develop effective technologies to recycle and reuse all waste generated moving forward,” he said.
This partnership represents a significant step for NEO in advancing its silicon anode technologies and contributing to a more sustainable battery industry.