Sila, a developer of next-generation battery materials, has started operations at its new automotive-scale silicon anode plant in Moses Lake, Washington. The 600,000-square-foot facility on a 160-acre site is the first of its kind in the U.S. to produce silicon-based anode materials at automotive scale. Initial production runs will test and refine process recipes, with the first batches of Titan Silicon™, Sila’s silicon-carbon (Si/C) anode material, slated for applications in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, drones, augmented and virtual reality devices, and satellites.
Designed for rapid scale-up, the plant’s initial capacity will support 2–5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of anode material per year, with the potential to expand to 250 GWh within five years. This expansion target could make Moses Lake the largest silicon anode production facility worldwide. By producing domestically at such scale, Sila aims to replace graphite—currently sourced predominantly from overseas—with higher-performance, American-made silicon anodes, helping address supply chain vulnerabilities for U.S. battery manufacturers.
Powered by clean hydropower from the nearby Columbia River, the facility incorporates stringent safety, environmental, and automotive-grade quality controls. These measures were integrated during the plant’s design and construction phases, ensuring consistent, high-quality output. To support regional workforce development, Sila is partnering with local colleges and vocational programs to hire and train up to 500 skilled employees over the next three to five years.
“This is not just about building a factory. It is about closing the gap between innovation and manufacturing in America,” said Gene Berdichevsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Sila. “If we do not execute, innovation will flow to places that can. We have to build here in the United States to create a self-sustaining innovation economy, ensuring that our advancements in next-generation battery technology, like silicon-carbon anodes, are not only conceived but also produced domestically at a global scale.”
“With the opening of Sila Moses Lake, Washington state is continuing to lead the way in innovation. This facility will create hundreds of good jobs in Moses Lake and help power our transition to electric vehicles with next-generation battery technology, manufactured here in Washington,” said Governor Bob Ferguson.
First commercialized in 2021, Titan Silicon anodes offer up to 20% higher energy density than the best-performing graphite cells, along with faster charging speeds and flexibility for various battery-powered applications.
Source: Business Wire
