European deep-tech innovator and CO₂ Value Europe member UP Catalyst has announced a strategic partnership with South Korean industrial conglomerate SGC Energy. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in the commercialisation of CO₂-derived carbon materials, specifically graphite and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the global battery industry.
Scaling Sustainable Materials
The partnership will deploy UP Catalyst’s proprietary Molten Salt CO₂ Capture and Electrochemical Transformation (MSCC-ET) technology in Korea. By utilising CO₂ from SGC Energy’s Gunsan plant, which captures 100,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, the project will transform industrial emissions into high-value, carbon-negative raw materials.
Rait Maasikas, CEO of UP Catalyst, highlighted the importance of the move: “Korea is one of the most important battery markets in the world…This partnership accelerates our mission to transform industrial CO₂ from a liability into a critical raw material for the global energy transition.”
The collaboration covers four key areas:
- Technology verification and performance evaluation.
- Deployment of a demonstration system in Korea.
- Commercial-scale facility development for the Korean CNT and graphite market.
- Exploration of future cooperation models, including joint ventures, technology licensing and joint participation in government support projects.
A Note from CO₂ Value Europe
While we celebrate UP Catalyst’s technical success in Asia, this partnership also underscores a key message from our association. For Europe to remain a leader in the transition towards a sustainable economy, EU regulations must support the deployment of such strategic CCU projects at home. We continue to advocate for a legislative framework that matches the ambition and speed of our members.
About the Partners
UP Catalyst is a European leader in sustainable advanced materials, recognised as a Strategic Project under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). SGC Energy is a premier South Korean eco-friendly energy provider and operator of one of the country’s first large-scale private CCU facility.
Read the full press release.
