USE-G aims to establish a sustainable, European-controlled graphite processing and recycling supply chain for lithium-ion batteries, reducing reliance on China.
Northern Graphite Corporation, in collaboration with Rain Carbon Germany GmbH, H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH, and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, has officially launched a major European research and development initiative titled USE-G: Environmentally Friendly and Safe Graphite Extraction for Europe’s Battery Industry. The three-year program is primarily financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, which is contributing €1.14 million toward the project’s total budget of €1.70 million. The initiative is focused on developing innovative graphite processing technologies that significantly reduce environmental impact, lower energy consumption, and help Europe establish a supply chain independent of China.
Graphite plays a critical role in lithium-ion batteries, accounting for up to 40 percent of the active material used in a standard battery anode. Despite its importance, Europe currently relies almost entirely on Chinese technologies for graphite purification, coating, and shaping to achieve battery-grade quality. The USE-G program aims to address this strategic vulnerability by creating a fully European-controlled graphite processing pathway. Key objectives include purifying natural graphite without hydrofluoric acid, developing safer and more sustainable carbon coatings, and enabling the recovery and reuse of graphite from battery recycling waste, commonly known as black mass.
As part of the project, Northern Graphite will supply natural graphite from its operating mine in Canada and, subject to restart, from its mine in Namibia, which is currently under care and maintenance. Both sources produce graphite certified for battery applications. Northern Graphite’s German laboratory will be responsible for milling, shaping, and conducting final electrochemical testing of the processed graphite materials. These steps are essential to validate the performance of the newly developed materials for lithium-ion battery use.
H.C. Starck Tungsten will contribute its proprietary technology to extract graphite from black mass generated during the recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries. In most conventional recycling processes, graphite contained in black mass is destroyed or discarded. Through USE-G, this graphite will instead be purified, coated, and reintroduced into the battery supply chain, supporting Europe’s broader circular economy ambitions.
Friedrich Schiller University Jena will lead the development of a novel purification process using chlorine gas at elevated temperatures. This method is expected to be significantly cleaner than hydrofluoric acid-based purification and less energy-intensive than high-temperature thermal purification methods currently used in parts of the industry. While chlorine-based purification is established in other industrial applications, its use for graphite has not yet been systematically studied. USE-G will be the first project to comprehensively evaluate this technique for both natural and recycled graphite streams.
Once purified, the graphite materials will be sent to Rain Carbon Germany, which will focus on developing advanced carbon coating materials and sustainable coating processes. These coatings improve the electrochemical performance of graphite anodes while reducing environmental impact. Rain’s work also seeks to replace traditional coal tar-based raw materials with alternatives that offer better long-term availability and a lower environmental footprint.
Initially, natural and recycled graphite will be processed separately to establish baseline purity and performance metrics. Later stages of the project will assess the feasibility of blending recycled and natural graphite into a single anode material. The ultimate goal is to produce a next-generation European graphite product suitable for commercial qualification by battery manufacturers. All research and processing activities will take place in Germany, with raw graphite supplied from Northern Graphite’s international operations.
The USE-G program commenced on January 1, 2026, and will conclude on December 31, 2029. By its completion, the partners aim to demonstrate a fully integrated, European-controlled graphite processing flow sheet encompassing purification, shaping, coating, recycling, and performance testing—supporting Europe’s energy transition and strengthening its independence in critical battery materials.
