A major paper producer in Finland is developing batteries from trees

Stora Enso is working on an idea of producing batteries using a polymer avaliable in trees. The company aims to manufacture bio-based batteries by 2025.

One of the main component of a battery is anode made of carbon. A tree polymer, lignin, includes carbon. Lauri Lehtonen, head of Stora Enso's lignin-based battery solution, Lignode, explains:

"Lignin is the glue in the trees that kind of glues the cellulose fibres together and also makes the trees very stiff."

The developers consider to obtain lignin for a carbon material used in battery anodes from the waste pulp already being produced at some of Stora Enso`s facilities.

The commonly used litium batteries are strongly depend on environmentally damaging industrial procedures and mining. The idea of replacing harmful graphitic carbon in lithium-ion batteries with sustanainable and bio-based alternative made from lignin is prospective.

As a material, lignin is:

The company hasn't yet revealed in details the process of turning lignin into required structure described as irregular or "amorphous". The main advantage of irregular structure is fast charging. It will enable users to charge the battery in just 8 mins. This feature is extremely attractive for developers of electric vehicles batteries.

Lignode by Stora Enso states:

In ten years, the battery market is expected to grow tenfold. So, with increasing demands for electrification and rising standards of living, it’s essential that we find new and smarter technologies to meet the future.