Contemporary Amperex Technology and CarbonScape form strategic partnership
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited and CarbonScape have formed a strategic partnership to explore the use of biochar in improving soil health, with initial trials showing a 23% increase in topsoil organic carbon when combined with a 10% reduction in irrigation. This collaboration highlights the potential of biochar as a viable solution for enhancing soil carbon content, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration efforts.
Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and CarbonScape have formed a partnership to expand the production of carbon-negative, bio-based graphite from forestry residues. This collaboration aims to address global graphite shortages and reduce manufacturing emissions by establishing a sustainable supply chain for electric vehicle battery anodes by 2030.
CATL has made a strategic investment in CarbonScape, a New Zealand-based materials developer. Announced in July 2026, the partnership focuses on scaling up and deploying bio-based graphite materials for next-generation battery supply chains. CATL will have board representation and will serve as the primary industrialization partner to scale CarbonScape’s technology to meet the growing demand for low-carbon anode materials.
The battery industry faces a significant supply bottleneck in battery-grade graphite, which constitutes up to 50% of a lithium-ion battery cell by volume. Global demand is expected to increase six-fold between 2025 and 2040, driven by the expansion of electric vehicles. Currently, over 75% of global battery graphite is derived from synthetic feedstock through energy-intensive processes that emit substantial carbon dioxide. Additionally, about 95% of global processing capacity for battery-grade graphite is concentrated in China, posing geopolitical and supply risks for automakers in the United States and Europe.
CarbonScape has developed a proprietary process that converts renewable forestry by-products, such as wood chips and sawdust, into high-performance, battery-grade biographite. This material matches the electrochemical performance of conventional synthetic graphite while maintaining cost parity. By using localized forestry residues, the technology offers a carbon-negative footprint. The partnership leverages CarbonScape’s material science innovation with CATL’s expertise in mass production and process optimization.
The partnership aims to establish a pathway to full commercial-scale production by the end of 2030. Initial efforts will focus on validating CarbonScape’s production process at a demonstration scale within CATL facilities. This phase will mitigate technical risks before constructing dedicated commercial plants. Ultimately, the partnership will create a localized, sustainable supply chain for anode materials, helping automakers and policymakers meet regulatory and sustainability requirements globally.
Source: Biochar Feed