INDUSTRY FOCUS: METALLURGY

solutions provider – to develop highsilicon anode solutions for electric vehicle batteries together. Sales of EVs were up by 75% in the first quarter of 2022 against the same period in 2021. That year, sales doubled on 2020. The market is booming, and the supply chain is adapting to meet demand and drive performance.

“Since our MOU with Trinseo, we have commissioned and started up our first industrial milling facility, enabling us to produce and deliver samples, of up to several tons, to major partners to continue the path towards commercialisation of new siliconcontaining materials for the anode of lithium-ion batteries,” explains Levi.

“At the same time, steady progress on our R&D program is being made to use micrometric silicon in silicon dominant anodes, which is grabbing the attention of main cell and EV players. We are enhancing electrochemical capabilities with our local partners and developing new materials within the partnership with Trinseo and ongoing funded research projects.”

Recently, the company finalised its ESG strategy – a five-year plan which promotes Ferroglobe’s sustainability focus as a fundamental strategic pillar within the fabric of the business globally. Part of this means reducing CO2 emissions, become more energy efficient, supplying into energy transition-based industries, and investing ethically.

“As part of our path to become a more sustainable company, we are working on different primary levers to lower our CO2 emissions without compromising our growth objectives,” says Levi. “As part of our decarbonisation ambition project, reducing CO2 emissions is our main objective via replacing coal by using charcoal or biocarbon in our production processes across the plants.

“We are also implementing key technical metrics in all our plants, to systematise and boost energy efficiency. In our European plants, we have ongoing projects of heat recovery which are already reducing energy specific consumption by 10%, which we intend to extend to our other high indirect emissions countries in the future.”

History Of Change

The future looks bright for Ferroglobe. Embracing change and looking to do things differently, this is a business that has proven its commitment to a different outlook. Through its

Innovative Technologies For Climate Neutral Industry

history, change has been constant. Acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, economic and political ups and downs, and financial challenges that blight many have been effectively traversed by Ferroglobe for a long time. “We have a strong track record of successfully navigating economic downturns thanks to operational flexibility and the settlement of plants in competitive locations, in terms of cost and reliability. This experience has provided the company with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in challenging economic environments,” suggest Levi.

“Although we are facing challenging market conditions, we believe that investing in the development of high-quality, innovative products for growing end markets, such as green mobility or solar photovoltaics, will bring great longterm benefits not only for Ferroglobe, but also for society as a whole,” he adds.

If the past three years is anything to go by, Ferroglobe is not only embracing change but actively driving it. A new strategy, new clients, new industries, new materials; fantastic financials – it’s a positive journey.

“Together, with everyone’s support, we have made great progress in building the new Ferroglobe and the 2022 financial results show that we are moving in the right direction,” he concludes.