Producing graphite anodes from biochar

The solution must/should:

• Feasibly produce sufficient graphite for automotive batteries once fully developed. In the context of this challenge, a solution that can produce a few hundred kilograms at a pilot scale would be good.
• Use feedstocks from locally available materials in different regions to allow scaling to different international locations
• Provide an overview of the proposed supply chain

It is expected that the process will need to be developed to pilot plant scale. Successful demonstration could then lead to larger scale and commercially ready operations.

The solution must be able to produce graphite of a suitable quality for typical battery applications. Solutions will be assessed based on information provided on the quality of the graphite that can be produced so details should be included in the application on:

• Concentrations of pollutants
• Density
• Particle size distribution
• Porosity
• Carbon content

The solution, once fully developed, must also have lower energy demand and CO2 footprint than current state of the art solutions from natural graphite and synthetic graphite production processes. Information to support this should be provided in the application.

The solution must:

• Produce graphite for use as an anode within a Li-ion battery
• Comply with EU regulations for pollutants emissions

Meet the following Stellantis High-Quality Criteria:

• No harm: prove no negative environmental, social or economic impact by preparatory analysis, collaboration with local communities, robust planification & regular monitoring
• No leakage: avoid displacing or creating emissions by preparatory analysis, collaboration with communities and robust planification
• If the solution starts from biomass as input material, this biomass must not cause competition with food

• Solutions that do not comply with the Stellantis High-Quality Criteria of No harm and No leakage
• Solutions where the source of biomass is in competition with food

The levelised cost of the solution can be higher than current production costs for natural and synthetic graphite, but it must demonstrate quantitively lower CO2 footprint. However, cost is an important consideration so solutions that can achieve lower costs once developed are preferable.

Successful applicants will be given an opportunity to pitch to Stellantis. The applications will be reviewed by technical experts in battery materials at Stellantis. Selected solutions may be co-developed towards commercial adoption through co-development, pilot studies or other arrangement depending on mutual agreement between Stellantis and the solution provider.

The benefits package for a successful applicant may also include:

• Support from Innovate UK Business Connect
• Support in the development of a prototype or pilot
• Technical support
• Invitation to attend or present at Innovate UK Business Connect events
• A potential business collaboration
• Investor introductions (if investment is required)
• Support if any Innovate or similar competitions are relevant

Invitation to pitch

Successful applicants will be invited to a pitch day, giving them a chance to meet Stellantis and pitch their project plan, followed by a Q&A.

After the pitch day, a final funding decision will be made by Stellantis. For unsuccessful applicants, feedback will be given in a timely manner.

Launch of the competition: 7thJuly

Deadline for applications: 18th August

Selection and notification of finalists: 9th September

Date of pitch day: Week commencing 15th September

The application form for this challenge will require applicants to provide company information and answer 3 questions – Idea Summary, Technology Readiness and Intellectual Property – each with a limit of 300 words.

Optionally, supporting documents can be attached to the application. We recommend that supporting documents are limited to those which are directly relevant to the application. Please note that applications with no supporting document will not receive any penalty in assessment. Supporting documents which the Assessment Panel deems to be superfluous may be disregarded. Examples of useful additional documents include product images or short specification sheets, slide decks detailing the solution and/or company background, or solution case studies.

We recommend that you complete the application form in Google Chrome as other browsers may have compatibility issues. The application form does not need to be completed in one session and can be saved for future edits. Please ensure that you toggle “Stage Complete” for each section before submission. Note that you will no longer be able to edit your application once you have clicked “Submit Idea” at the bottom of the Summary page.

Your proposal must include:

Information about how your proposed solutions meets, or can meet, the stipulations in the Challenge section, Functional requirements, Technical requirements and Operating Conditions.

Applications will be assessed on:

• Relevance to the defined challenge
• Benefit of implementation
• Feasibility/economic viability
• Innovative nature
• Ability to launch in line with expected timescales
• Credibility of applicant company
• Coherence of the proposed business model
• Development potential
• Maturity of the solution

Existing background IP associated with a potential solution will remain with Solution Provider(s). Where any new IP generation is envisaged, it will be subject to the mutual IP agreement of the Solution Provider(s) and Stellantis.

Any commercial deployment of a transferred solution or newly developed solution, through licensing, joint venture, partnership, or direct investment, will be subject to the commercial agreement between the Solution Provider(s) and Stellantis.

Where necessary, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) may be signed to uphold confidentiality in the engagement between the Solution Provider(s) and Stellantis. This would be expected to be after final company selection. All entries are treated as confidential and only shared with Innovate UK and Stellantis, however if the Solution Provider is concerned about sharing IP, it is suggested that details of IP are not disclosed. Instead, focus on the outcomes of the technology proposed at this application stage.

Innovate UK and Innovate UK Business Connect do not take any share of IP ownership or enter commercial ventures through the iX programme.

A selected panel of assessors will review and score your application. The panel of assessors will meet and agree a consensus score. Successful solutions will be selected by the Challenge holder. Success will be based on total consensus scores, a portfolio approach and the capacity of the challenge holders to carry out the projects.