On May 13, CarbonScape Limited, a company specializing in converting forestry by-products into battery materials, received its foundational “Composition of Matter” patent (EP-4 079 686 B1) from the European Patent Office. Validated in 40 European countries, this patent covers a process that transforms woodchips, sawdust and other forestry side streams into battery-grade graphite. By enabling domestic production, CarbonScape aims to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported graphite—95% of which is currently sourced from China—and offer a lower-cost, lower-carbon alternative for anode materials.
According to Vincent Ledoux-Pedailles, CarbonScape’s Chief Commercial Officer, the patent positions the company to deploy its technology across the European Union, leveraging renewable forestry feedstocks and supporting the bloc’s goal of battery mineral sovereignty. The innovation aligns with recent EU policies including the Battery Regulation, the Green Deal Industrial Plan and the proposed Critical Raw Materials Act, all of which prioritize local, sustainable supply chains.
CarbonScape highlights three key benefits of its approach:
- Abundant renewable feedstock – Europe’s managed forests produce millions of tonnes of wood residues annually, creating new revenue streams for local communities.
- Shorter, greener logistics – Local graphite production can cut shipping distances, reduce Scope 3 emissions and mitigate geopolitical risks for cell makers and vehicle manufacturers.
- Policy alignment – EU incentives and funding mechanisms are designed to support low-carbon materials and on-shore manufacturing.
The European patent follows a U.S. grant (US 12 187 615 B2) awarded on March 19, 2025, reinforcing CarbonScape’s position in sustainable graphite technology. The company reports achieving a 90% spheroidization yield—a key benchmark for battery-grade material—and has finalized engineering for a demonstration plant due to begin operations in 2026. Long-term feedstock agreements are in place in both Europe and North America, where CarbonScape plans commercial facilities.
Founded in New Zealand, CarbonScape has operated a pilot plant since 2018 and counts ATL and Stora Enso among its investors. The company is now preparing to scale production to support Europe’s rapidly growing battery manufacturing ecosystem.
Source: CarbonScape
