Innovation

 
 

Ferroglobe: NEW MATERIALS FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION

Ferroglobe is committed to developing next-generation materials that accelerate the deployment of energy‑transition technologies, with silicon playing a central role in enabling renewable energy, energy storage, and sustainable mobility.

In 2024, Ferroglobe signed a Memorandum of Understanding with U.S.-based Coreshell to develop the first metallurgical‑grade silicon suitable for use in electric‑vehicle batteries. This partnership aims to deliver a breakthrough material capable of replacing graphite and silane‑based compounds, reducing costs while significantly improving the performance of lithium‑ion batteries.

This development is powered by three complementary, high-impact approaches:

  • Coreshell’s patented nanocoating, which stabilizes micrometric silicon particles and prevents degradation, making silicon truly viable as an anode material.
  • Ferroglobe’s advanced metallurgical purification process, capable of producing silicon with up to 99.995% purity, without chemical reagents and at highly competitive costs.
  • External Collaboration for Research, Development and Innovation

The strategic impact of this project is substantial: silicon can store up to 10 times more energy than graphite, enabling electric vehicles to achieve up to 30% greater driving range. Through this partnership, Ferroglobe positions itself at the forefront of the global race to industrialize silicon-based batteries.

 

THE FERROGLOBE RESEARCH CENTER: FERROGLOBE INNOVATION

Ferroglobe Innovation brings together an interdisciplinary team of specialists in process development and production. The team is focused on driving new products and lines of business for the group. At the Ferroglobe research center in Sabón, Spain, they transform knowledge and innovation into solutions with industrial applications. Their main areas of activity include developing processes for producing high-purity silicon powder, recovering and recycling byproducts to obtain high-value materials, and developing critical materials. Ferroglobe Innovation’s silicon powder production is ISO 9001 certified, underscoring the team’s commitment to quality and continuous improvement. The Quality Policy of Ferroglobe Innovation can be viewed here.