America's Battery Blind Spot That's Undermining U.S. Defense Security

The U.S. is pouring tens of billions into a once-in-a-generation industrial push to bring battery manufacturing home - powering everything from EVs and drones to submarines and soldier systems. But beneath the surface of this transformation lies a critical, often-overlooked vulnerability: the battery anode.

To build a resilient and independent battery supply chain, the United States must secure a domestic alternative to graphite. Fortunately, such an alternative already exists in the form of metallurgical silicon, a critical material currently produced in significant quantities by U.S. industry.

The very resource that could free the U.S. from reliance on foreign graphite is itself in crisis. Silicon metal isn’t just vital for next-generation batteries, it’s foundational to aluminum, semiconductors, and advanced defense systems. And yet, the domestic industry faces considerable challenges overseas.

Beyond the issue of supply, advances in battery technology have made it possible to incorporate metallurgical silicon directly into battery anodes, offering a path to reduce reliance on graphite. This innovation can deliver significantly higher energy density and faster charging, improving battery performance for a wide range of defense and commercial applications.

Importantly, this approach leverages materials already produced in the United States and fits within existing battery manufacturing infrastructure. This means that securing and scaling silicon as a battery material is an achievable goal that can strengthen the entire supply chain without requiring large-scale new mining or processing facilities.

To realize the full potential of silicon and its use as a more significant battery input, federal policy must recognize its national security importance. This has been acknowledged somewhat by the D.O.E formally designating silicon as a critical material in 2023, but should be enhanced further by, prioritizing it in procurement and research funding, and implementing trade measures that protect domestic producers from unfair foreign competition.

Moreover, defense innovation initiatives should accelerate the deployment of silicon-based battery technologies that utilize domestic resources and infrastructure. By doing so, the United States can reduce its dependence on foreign supply chains at a vulnerable point in the battery manufacturing process.

There is bipartisan support for reshoring manufacturing and securing supply chains critical to national defense. We’ve invested billions to bring battery production home—but by neglecting the anode, we’ve left the front door wide open. If the anode supply remains dependent on a foreign source, these efforts risk falling short. Every battery built domestically must have secure access to its foundational materials.

Metallurgical silicon provides a clear and industrialized American-made solution. It is neither a futuristic idea nor a speculative resource. It is a proven commodity with the potential to fortify the United States’ strategic autonomy.

Supporting silicon as a critical material is an essential step toward a stronger, more secure, and more resilient battery industry that meets both defense and commercial needs.

Jonathan Tan is the CEO and Co-founder of Coreshell Technologies, a battery innovation company which developed a drop-in battery technology that replaces graphite with metallurgical silicon in the anode, boosting energy density by 30–40 percent. It uses materials already produced at scale in the U.S. and integrates with existing lithium-ion manufacturing without requiring new mining or production infrastructure.

Bill Hightower is the V.P. of U.S. Corporate Affairs for Ferroglobe USA, which is the largest producer of silicon metal in the United States. Its material is mined, refined, and processed entirely on U.S. soil, in industrial quantities that dwarf anything being produced by next-generation battery startups. It’s a critical material, not just for energy systems but for the production of aluminum, semiconductors, and advanced defense materials.  [NASDAQ: GSM]  https://investor.ferroglobe.com.