CarbonScape Ltd. (Riverlands, New Zealand) announces a significant leap forward in its journey towards commercialization by selecting the Sunila site in Finland, owned by Stora Enso Oyj (Helsinki, Finland; a co-owner of CarbonScape), as the location for its biographite demonstration plant. This strategic decision marks an important step for CarbonScape in establishing a European battery supply chain independent of traditional graphite sources, and the data generated by the plant will also support expansion globally. In 2023, Stora Enso closed its pulp production and lignin extraction operations at Sunila and will now lease part of the site area to CarbonScape.
CarbonScape is currently advancing its engineering study for the demonstration plant, as well as its first commercial plant. The aim is to start construction of the demonstration plant next year and begin sample production in 2026.
This site in Sunila, Finland will host the new biographite demonstration plant (Source: CarbonScape)
CarbonScape has developed a low-cost and carbon-negative biographite made from wood biomass. This revolutionary material is engineered to replace mined or fossil-based synthetic graphite in lithium-ion batteries, addressing critical supply chain and sustainability challenges in the rapidly growing electric vehicle and energy storage sectors.
Ivan Williams, CEO of CarbonScape, commented: “Our partnership with Stora Enso and the decision to locate our demonstration plant in Sunila underscore the global potential of our technology. By producing biographite from sustainable wood sources, we’re not just creating a new supply chain – we’re redefining what’s possible in battery technology.”
The selection of Stora Enso’s Sunila site comes a year after the forest industry leader became a shareholder in CarbonScape. This collaboration combines CarbonScape’s cutting-edge technology with Stora Enso’s expertise in bio-based innovations from renewable materials.
Juuso Konttinen, Senior Vice President of Biomaterials Growth Businesses at Stora Enso, stated: Hosting CarbonScape’s demonstration plant at our Sunila site aligns perfectly with our shared vision for advancing sustainable battery technologies and the shift to renewable materials. This partnership enables us to explore synergies between our plants, driving innovation and strengthening Stora Enso’s leadership in sustainable solutions.”
Since 2018, CarbonScape has been optimizing its biographite production process at its pilot plant in New Zealand. The new demonstration plant in Sunila represents a significant scaling up of this technology, paving the way for full commercialization.
The demonstration plant will have three main purposes:
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Producing larger biographite samples for OEMs and battery cell makers and for product qualification purposes
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Training operators and engineers in a large industrial setting
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Getting closer to one of the end markets for CarbonScape: Europe
With graphite comprising up to 42% of the volume of a lithium-ion battery, the development of a sustainable, locally produced alternative is of critical importance. By 2030, over 90% of the world’s battery-grade graphite will come from China, creating potential supply chain vulnerabilities for the growing electric vehicle and renewable energy storage industries.
CarbonScape’s biographite offers a price competitive solution that offer both performance and environmental superiority, while enhancing energy security – enabling localised production of this essential material. This aligns with recent policy initiatives such as the European Critical Raw Materials Act and similar measures in North America aimed at securing strategic battery materials.