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For years, Europe has sought to establish its own battery industry to avoid dependence on China. The challenge, however, is that competing directly with the Chinese companies dominating the market is an uphill battle.
The latest data from the International Energy Agency is stark: China accounts for over 80% of global battery cell manufacturing capacity. Furthermore, Chinese companies already supply nearly 75% of the batteries installed in electric vehicles worldwide.
The high-profile failure of Sweden’s Northvolt—which went bankrupt in 2025—illustrates the difficulty of competing in large-scale battery manufacturing. Although the company secured billions of dollars in funding, issues regarding production, liquidity, and scaling ultimately rendered the project unviable.
Does this mean Europe should abandon the market? Not necessarily. A smarter strategy might be to become a global leader in specific components rather than manufacturing the entire battery. This is where a company deserving of close attention enters the picture: LeydenJar, a Dutch firm born out of the Eindhoven technology hub.
The battery's bottleneck lies in the anode. The anode plays a crucial role in lithium-ion batteries; while graphite has traditionally been the material of choice, it is reaching its limits as the industry seeks to increase capacity, reduce size, and accelerate charging speeds.
Silicon offers a theoretical lithium storage capacity far superior to that of graphite. However, the problem is well known: during charging and discharging, silicon expands significantly and eventually degrades.
LeydenJar has developed a different solution: a pure silicon anode featuring a porous, flexible structure capable of absorbing that expansion. According to the company, its Silyte technology can deliver up to 50% higher energy density and reach an 80% charge in just a few minutes.
What is truly interesting, however, is not the material itself, but a technology reminiscent of semiconductor manufacturing. LeydenJar employs a process known as PECVD—plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. Using this technique, it deposits silicon nanostructures directly onto a copper foil.
This technology is related to processes used in the manufacture of solar cells and semiconductors. Simply put: instead of manufacturing a conventional anode and then coating it, the company "grows" the silicon onto the substrate.
And therein lies its great opportunity. The company does not aim to become yet another battery manufacturing giant. Its ambition is to supply a specific technology to battery manufacturers worldwide—much like the role ASML plays in the chip industry.
The company is currently preparing a plant in Eindhoven, with production scheduled to begin in 2027. Will it work? No one can say for sure yet. Moving from the lab to competitive industrial production is always the moment of truth.
But perhaps this is the path Europe needs: not winning the battle by manufacturing more cheaply, but by developing technology that others need to buy. China will retain its dominant position, and competition will be fierce. Yet in the technology sector, a small company with an innovation that is difficult to replicate can change the game.
I wish the team at LeydenJar the best of luck; Europe needs more companies capable of thinking this way. You can visit the company's website at: https://leyden-jar.com/
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