Carbonscape to establish biochar production facility at Sunila industrial site in Kotka, Finland

New Zealand-based bioeconomy company Carbonscape is set to establish a pilot facility for biochar production at the Sunila industrial site in Kotka, Finland. This initiative is part of their efforts to develop sustainable battery materials. The area is owned by Stora Enso, which has agreed to rent a section of the Sunila site to Carbonscape. Following the closure of the Sunila pulp mill last year, Stora Enso has been exploring new uses for the industrial area and is also a minority shareholder in Carbonscape.

Construction of the facility is expected to begin next year, with pilot production aimed to start in 2026. Currently, Carbonscape is conducting technical design studies for its first pilot plant. The company claims to have developed an affordable, carbon-negative biochar made from wood biomass, describing the material as revolutionary. The goal is to substitute biochar for the mined or fossil-based synthetic graphite typically used in lithium-ion batteries.

“By producing biochar from sustainable forest industry by-products, we are not only creating a new supply chain but also redefining the limits of battery technology possibilities,” stated Ivan Williams, CEO of Carbonscape, in a press release. The company targets up to $2.5 billion in revenue for biochar by 2035, aiming for nearly 20% market share in Europe and the United States. More updates will follow as the story develops.