Could ‘green’ graphite made from wood chips loosen China's grip on battery energy storage?

Start-up CarbonScape claims it can give supply-chain security in lithium-ion battery production while cutting costs and emissions

A breakthrough technology that can make graphite out of wood chips, undermining China’s chokehold on a material crucial for lithium-ion batteries, has received $18m in backing from a group of investors.

Kiwi start-up CarbonScape announced today that it has secured the funding from Finnish-Swedish forestry firm Stora Enso, Hong Kong-headquartered battery maker Amperex Technology and other partners.

Graphite makes up to half the weight of a lithium-ion batteries, which are essential to the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors. However expected global demand far outstrips supply and a deficit of 777,000 tonnes annually is expected by 2030.

EV makers including Tesla have been rushing to secure graphite from outside of its dominant producer, China.

By Cosmo Sanderson, Recharge News