Solid carbon monoxide: A cost-competitive, scalable material for advanced battery production
We speak to Carol Hirschmugl of COnovate about her company’s novel graphene material for battery anodes. COnovate was a New Energy Challenge finalist in 2024.
I think the most important thing we gained from the NEC experience was fresh insight into working with big corporations.
How would you describe your technology and what it does?
Our new eCOphite™ material is the world’s only form of solid carbon monoxide. It has many potential applications, including use in the manufacture of lithium-ion battery anodes. Battery manufacturers rely on imported graphite from high-risk geographies to produce high-quality anodes. Our product can be produced from a range of low-cost, bio-sourced materials and offers a cost-competitive, scalable material for battery production. The benefits of eCOphite material include shorter charge times, greater charge capacity, simplified supply chains and improved safety, using a technology that is compatible with existing battery designs and materials.
In what ways did participating in NEC 2024 shape your business?
The discussions we had with specialists in the Shell Research and Development organisation helped us shape our commercial strategy and develop collaboration and investment targets. The NEC had a considerable impact on our strategic thinking and how we present it to industry partners. For example, participating at Slush 2024, a premier start-up and technology conference in Finland, was a wonderful experience with great exposure to strategic collaborators and investors. In addition, we received valuable feedback from Shell participants and made great contacts with other start-ups, including those in the NEC programme.
What does the future hold for you?
Our current focus is on completing full validation of our material and preparing to scale up our production operations to meet larger sample requirements from our battery partners. We are targeting a level in the range of 10–100 kg per day for industrial demonstration. Once we are fully validated through this demonstration phase, we will use a CMO (contract manufacturing organisation) for commercial scaleup, initially to reach a 10-kta capacity. We have engaged with key industry collaborators, including a significant OEM (original equipment manufacturer) that is an ideal partner for early introduction of our eCOphite material with the capability of completing full material validation in one year. We are also working with two prospective customers to test a range of new formulations leveraging the unique properties of our eCOphite material.
What would your advice for this year’s participants be?
Prepare yourself to take full advantage of all the opportunities that come to you through the competition. Plan properly for meetings with the experts, learn as much as you can about pitching your business and, after the event, follow up with the people you have met. The NEC gives start-ups a golden opportunity to meet valuable contacts and build relationships with them. The competition helps you hit the ground running by introducing your company to the right people with effective messaging for both strategic collaborators and potential investors.
What was the main lesson you learnt from the NEC?
We gained useful insights on presenting our technology in a commercially focused manner and enhanced our ability to present the COnovate story in an effective and convincing way as we prepared for the NEC judging panel. I think the most important thing we gained from the NEC experience was fresh insight into working with larger corporations, both in terms of identifying key contacts and in terms of presenting our company story effectively.
