Where graphene tech meets sustainability

Since the Paris Agreement on climate change 2016, we have seen an exceptional growth in the number of climate tech companies working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and counteract climate change. After interviewing climate tech investor Jane Walerud, we learn about two Swedish companies helping to tackle environmental issues with graphene: Bright Day Graphene and Granode.

Bright Day Graphene: graphene from the leftovers of the forestry industry

Graphene Flagship Associated Member Bright Day Graphene makes graphene out of lignin, a residual product of the forestry industry. Based in Kista, 20 minutes from Stockholm city centre, the company was founded in 2017 and has received three sustainability-related grants from Bioinnovation – a programme supported by Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Formas and Sweden’s Energy Agency. Here the mission and goals of Bright Day Graphene explained by the CEO, Malin Alpsten.

What’s the mission of your company? 

The mission of our company is to revolutionize energy storage by making it more sustainable and efficient.

What’s your unique selling point? 

Our graphene production process from lignin does not need mining or any toxic intermediates. This means our graphene is more environmentally friendly than other graphene manufacturers.

How much graphene do you produce and how is it used?

In our lab pilot, we produce graphene on a gram scale. This is used for different customer projects related to energy storage, package barriers, sensors in food packaging, transparent conductive films and bactericidal surfaces. Our future plan is to get funding for the construction of an industrial pilot in 2022.

Granode Materials: graphene for more sustainable lithium-ion batteries

Founded in 2021, Granode Materials obtained about 1.1 million euros in capital funding to develop a new graphene-based anode material for lithium-ion batteries. Granode Materials is a spin-off of the Swedish 2D fab AB, and both companies are part of Graphene Flagship Partnering Project SIO Grafen. Here the views and vision of Granode Materials’ CEO Richard Norén.

What’s the mission of your company? 

Our mission is to corner 30% of the European anode market for electric vehicles’ batteries by 2025, and 15% of the global market by 2030 with a sustainable product. Our local supplier manufactures graphene with a hydromechanical and energy-efficient process. Our anode material is easier to recycle and allows longer life than today’s batteries.

What’s your unique selling point? 

We produce anodes with 30% higher energy density and much higher storage capacity than current anodes, resulting in smaller and lighter batteries. Our anode material is free of flammable electrolytes and earth metals.

When do you anticipate your anodes will enter the market?

We expect to be commercial by 2025.