Rajitha Kariyawasan
Managing Director, Haycarb PLC
“A reasonable individual adjusts to their surroundings; an unreasonable one insists on reshaping the world to their desires. Hence, all advancement hinges on the unreasonable individual.” – George Bernard Shaw
The global landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. The swift shift towards electrification in transportation, large-scale energy storage, and the modern devices that drive our daily lives is generating a demand for sophisticated materials that have only recently emerged in commercial contexts. Central to this demand are the battery technologies that propel this transition, with carbon materials playing a crucial role in their efficiency, safety, and durability.
As the pace of this transition escalates, the competition in the development of advanced battery materials intensifies, with performance, consistency, and reliability becoming crucial factors for differentiation. Haycarb has positioned itself not merely as a participant in this arena but as an innovator in high-performance activated carbon, specifically designed for next-generation energy storage solutions. This endeavor is particularly noteworthy as it originates from Sri Lanka, showcasing the nation’s capacity to produce and develop advanced materials for complex global markets.
The independent accolade we recently received at the Presidential Export Awards 2024/25, including the Overall Award for Innovative Export Product of the Year for our HCE 400 product line, serves as a significant acknowledgment of our achievements. Nonetheless, this award represents just a milestone on our journey, emphasizing our aspirations and future directions.
What we have created: HCE 400 and silicon-carbon composite anodes
The HCE 400 is a groundbreaking high-purity activated carbon specifically engineered for silicon-carbon composite anodes utilized in lithium-ion batteries. These composite anodes signify a major leap in battery material technology, allowing for significantly higher energy density than traditional graphite anodes, thereby enhancing the range of electric vehicles and optimizing the performance of grid storage solutions.
Creating a carbon material suitable for this application is a complex task, necessitating not only chemical purity but also manufacturing precision that most activated carbon manufacturers have not previously needed to achieve.
At Haycarb, we have established this level of precision from the ground up. Our processes facilitate meticulous control over particle size and uniformity, and our advanced testing capabilities allow us to identify trace metal contaminants at extremely low levels, both of which are essential for high-performance battery applications.
These advancements are not merely incremental; they represent entirely new capabilities developed in-house to meet the stringent demands of the application.
In addition to product innovation, we have invested in state-of-the-art electrochemical laboratory facilities, enabling us to test, validate, and refine our materials against real-world battery performance standards. This alignment ensures that our development cycles are closely tied to application performance, a critical aspect when collaborating with global clients at the forefront of energy storage technology.
We are now witnessing these capabilities translating into market acceptance, with HCE 400 aiding customer qualification processes and production requirements across various international markets. Several clients have successfully validated our material and are advancing through different stages of commercialization, reflecting both the technical demands of silicon-carbon anode applications and the significance of Haycarb’s engineered porous carbon solutions.
“The true measure of sustainable innovation is not whether it works in a laboratory, but rather whether it performs reliably, at scale, in real-world conditions.”
The scale of our commitment
At Haycarb, we have demonstrated our belief in the potential of energy storage through substantial long-term investments. Our recently announced USD 18 million expansion, approved by the Board of Investment, is aimed at enhancing our carbon production capabilities for energy storage, supported by advanced manufacturing infrastructure tailored for the precision and consistency needed by next-generation battery materials. Once completed, this facility will be capable of producing high-performance carbon for both supercapacitors and silicon-carbon anodes, reinforcing our position in the swiftly evolving energy storage value chain.
This investment signifies our perspective that the global shift towards electrification is not merely a trend to observe, but a fundamental transition in which we actively engage. It also underscores our confidence in Haycarb’s technical foundation, operational rigor, and talent to compete on an international level.
Importantly, this expansion builds upon a strong and reliable foundation. Our core activated carbon business, which caters to water purification, air treatment, gold recovery, and various industrial applications, continues to deliver consistent outcomes. This stability allows us to invest in forward-looking opportunities with both assurance and strategic discipline.
Rooted in sustainability: from coconut shell to clean energy
A key aspect of Haycarb’s energy storage journey is its commitment to sustainability. The coconut shell, our primary raw material for activated carbon, is a by-product of Sri Lanka’s long-established coconut industry, which has supported rural livelihoods and economic activity for generations.
What begins as a coconut shell, harvested by smallholder farmers, is transformed into a high-performance material utilized in advanced energy systems. This origin is crucial, as it reinforces the sustainability and traceability of our products.
Our dedication to sustainability permeates the entire value chain. Through initiatives like Haritha Angara and our patented Recogen green charcoaling technology, we have facilitated the shift from traditional open-pit charcoaling to environmentally responsible closed-pit systems. Today, a considerable portion of our supplier network operates under this eco-friendly model.
We collaborate with over 400 micro-entrepreneurs throughout Sri Lanka and our international operations, ensuring that the sustainability of our energy storage materials is ingrained not only in the final product but also in the production methods employed.
People, purpose, and the culture behind innovation
This level of innovation is not driven solely by systems; it is propelled by our people.
Our scientists, engineers, manufacturing teams, and commercial personnel have collaborated over several years to bring this capability to fruition. From material development and process creation to market identification and global customer engagement, each team has played a vital role in transforming technical innovation into practical applications.
Throughout the journey, the team has chosen to trust in the potential for success and to act on that belief.
This ethos is ingrained in our purpose, brand values, and culture, which emphasize customer centricity, technical excellence, innovation, and a strong commitment to sustainability. We empower our employees to reach their full potential, envision the future with clarity and confidence, and enhance the lives of the communities and customers we serve. These principles shape our work and enable us to tackle challenges of this magnitude.
What recognition signifies – and what lies ahead
The Presidential Export Awards celebrate performance but also provide a moment to contemplate what it takes to cultivate enduring innovation; technically, commercially, and operationally over time.
Sustainable innovation is not merely an aspiration; it is a strategic approach. It demands long-term commitment, disciplined execution, and the readiness to invest in anticipation of future demand. When these components align, supported by a capable team and a clear purpose, substantial progress becomes achievable.
Sri Lanka possesses the potential to cultivate globally competitive, high-technology industries. Haycarb’s fifty-year history and its entry into the global energy storage market illustrate the possibilities that arise when such potential is backed by sustained investment and a long-term vision.
The future holds considerable promise. As the global need for advanced energy storage continues to rise, so too does the importance of materials innovation in facilitating that transition.
Haycarb’s journey epitomizes a broader transition, shifting from conventional materials to advanced applications, from local capabilities to global significance, and from established expertise to new realms of innovation.
Rajitha Kariyawasan is the Managing Director of Haycarb PLC, a subsidiary of Hayleys PLC and a prominent global player in the manufacture and supply of coconut shell-based activated carbon, distributing to markets across five continents.
