Synthetic graphite achieves strategic status in the EU
Vianode, a Norwegian producer of advanced battery materials with a greener footprint, welcomes the decision by the European Union, recognising both synthetic and natural graphite as strategic materials through the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
CRMA sets out a benchmark for diversified EU supply of the materials defined as critical, which is now set to include synthetic graphite.
“There is a gap in expected demand and supply of materials in the battery value chain in Europe. The production of graphite in Europe must increase to ensure the EU’s access to secure, diversified, affordable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and to meet the benchmarks for domestic capacities set out by the regulation. The inclusion of synthetic graphite as one of the EU’s strategic materials underlines its key role in bridging the supply-demand gap in Europe’s battery industry,” says Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode.
Graphite is a key material for the green transition representing most of the weight of a standard lithium-ion battery for electric vehicles (EVs), constituting 50 to 70 kilograms per EV. Currently, two types of graphite are used in EV batteries; synthetic and natural graphite. Synthetic graphite is produced in chemical industrial processes, while natural graphite is sourced from mining operations.
Vianode’s synthetic graphite materials are produced with approximately 90 percent lower CO2 emissions than traditional production, due to a significantly more energy-efficient technology and use of renewable energy. In EVs, Vianode’s synthetic graphite materials contribute to increased range, faster charging, longer service life, improved recyclability and enhanced safety.