Founded in 2008 and based in Blenheim, New Zealand, CarbonScape specializes in developing biographite technology for the energy storage sector. The company’s mission is to provide a carbon-negative alternative to conventional and synthetic graphite used in lithium-ion battery anodes. By transforming renewable biomass feedstock—primarily woodchip side streams and forestry residues—into high-quality biographite, CarbonScape offers anode material that combines comparable performance with significant cost and environmental benefits.
CarbonScape’s process differentiates itself by producing biographite engineered as a drop-in replacement in lithium-ion battery anodes. The method achieves a spheroidization yield of up to 90%, a substantial improvement over the 30–60% yield typically observed in traditional mined graphite and leading synthetic alternatives. By potentially saving up to 30 tons of CO₂ per ton of biographite produced, the company addresses both performance and sustainability challenges in battery technology.
“Our biographite goes beyond matching the best conventional graphite while being both cost effective and saving 30 tons of CO₂ per ton produced. This is truly helping OEM’s to improve and derisk the challenging lithium-ion supply chain.” says Vincent Ledoux-Pedailles, Chief Commercial Officer at CarbonScape.
High-Quality Biographite for Battery Anodes
CarbonScape’s process converts locally sourced, renewable biomass into a high-performance material designed to meet battery manufacturing requirements. Key attributes include:
- Cost Competitiveness: Lower feedstock costs and reduced energy requirements enable competitive pricing against both natural and synthetic graphite imports.
- Efficient Production Yield: Achieving a 90% spheroidization rate, surpassing conventional methods.
- Drop-in Replacement: The biographite is designed for direct use in lithium-ion battery anode manufacturing.
- Environmental Advantages: The carbon-negative process can potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 30 tons per ton of critical battery material.
- Local Production: Shortens supply chains, lowers transportation costs, and secures regional resource utilization.
These technical features allow CarbonScape to provide a supply chain alternative that maintains performance standards while reducing the environmental impact associated with battery production.
Unlike conventional graphite production, which is heavily concentrated in China (approximately 95% of global graphite anode production), CarbonScape’s feedstock-agnostic process can be implemented virtually anywhere sustainable forestry exists. This localization aspect squarely addresses growing geopolitical risks enabling the creation of battery material supply chains closer to manufacturing centers.
Market Focus and Supply Chain Benefits
CarbonScape targets two main applications, electric vehicle batteries and grid-scale energy storage systems. Localized production contributes to supply security by reducing dependency on critical supply chains where battery-grade graphite is in demand. Market trend estimates indicate that sustainable biographite could address up to 50% of global graphite demand by 2030, utilizing less than 5% of the forestry by-products generated in Europe and North America.
By fostering regional resource utilization, CarbonScape strengthens supply chain resilience and aids in the transition to cleaner energy solutions. Relying on renewable forestry residues positions the company to help manufacturers who want both reliable material sourcing and eco-friendly production methods.
The localized nature of CarbonScape’s production model offers significant economic benefits to the communities where plants are established. The company’s facilities can also reinvigorate industrial areas while transforming low-value wood materials into high-value battery components.
Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
To secure a consistent supply chain, CarbonScape has signed several long-term agreements—with durations of at least 10 years—with major global forestry companies. These arrangements ensure a steady stream of woodchips, the primary feedstock for full industrial production capacity.
A pilot plant in New Zealand has been operational for over six years, providing valuable data and process refinement. Plans are also underway to open a demonstration facility in Kotka, Finland. This new site is intended to scale the technology and produce larger biographite samples, support original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and battery cell producers, and facilitate operator training for full-scale industrial applications.
Investment and Expansion Roadmap
In 2023, CarbonScape raised $18 million in a corporate minority and later-stage venture capital round. Among the investors are Stora Enso, a global provider of renewable materials, and Amperex Technology Limited, known for its leadership in lithium-ion battery innovation. The funding supports the company’s expansion plans, which include commencing construction of its first industrial-scale plant in 2027 and beginning commercial production by early 2029.
These plans align with policy initiatives like the European Critical Raw Materials Act, supporting both the growth of CarbonScape’s operations and the securement of strategic battery materials as the demand for truly sustainable energy solutions increases.
According to Vincent Ledoux-Pedailles “By 2030, our objective is to secure 20% of the graphite market share in Europe as well as a similar share in North America using domestic forestry product as feedstock”.
A Path Forward to Sustainable Graphite Supply
CarbonScape’s sustainable biographite offers a viable alternative to traditional graphite, delivering similar performance in lithium-ion battery anodes while improving environmental outcomes. By adopting a carbon-negative production process and securing long-term, renewable feedstock supply, the company is well-positioned to support industries such as electric mobility and grid-scale storage. The company’s strategic partnerships and expansion plans demonstrate its commitment to a future where battery manufacturing is both efficient and environmentally responsible.
With the increasing demand for sustainable energy storage solutions, CarbonScape offers battery manufacturers an option that addresses performance, supply security, and environmental impacts in one integrated solution. Through careful process development and partnerships, CarbonScape continues to contribute to the transition to more sustainable battery production technologies.
