10180511PhyCodes – Feasibility of Seaweed-Derived Biochar for Biogenic Battery AnodesClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKNellie is advancing a new generation of biogenic, carbon-negative materials that have the potential to transform the environmental footprint of lithium-ion batteries. This project explores whether biochar produced from seaweed can be developed into a sustainable, high-performance anode material, marking the earliest research phase of PhyCodes(tm), bioanodes produced from sustainable materials. Currently, the majority of battery anodes are manufactured using graphite derived from fossil fuels. This supply chain is highly carbon-intensive, generating over four kilograms of CO2 for every kilogram of graphite produced, and is heavily dependent on imports from non-UK sources. As demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage continues to rise, so too does the environmental and geopolitical pressure to identify cleaner, more resilient alternatives. Seaweed offers a unique and promising biological route to address this challenge. It is abundant along UK and European coastlines, grows rapidly without requiring land, fertiliser, or freshwater, and absorbs large quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere and ocean. When processed through pyrolysis, seaweed produces biochar that may be suitable for energy storage applications. The project will therefore investigate how the physical, chemical, and electrochemical properties of seaweed-derived biochar compare with those of conventional anode materials. The research will begin with the cultivation and preparation of seaweed feedstock, followed by laboratory-scale thermal conversion experiments to produce biochar under a range of controlled conditions. Nellie's proprietary pyrolysis systems will be adapted for this new feedstock. The resulting materials will undergo detailed characterisation. The central aim of the project is to determine the feasibility of using seaweed-derived biochar as a functional, sustainable alternative to graphite in lithium-ion batteries. By generating the first dataset on marine biomass-derived anode materials, this work will identify the most promising production pathways for future optimisation and scale-up. This project represents a major step toward carbon-negative battery components manufactured entirely within the UK. By coupling biological carbon removal with functional materials innovation, the PhyCodes(tm) turn sequestered carbon into a high-value product that actively contributes to climate change mitigation. This approach directly supports UK and EU policy priorities, including the EU Battery Regulation (2023) and the UK Net Zero Strategy. Beyond its immediate technical outcomes, the project has broader environmental and economic implications. It would demonstrate how marine biomass can play a central role in the circular, low-carbon economy. The research aligns with the funding mission to accelerate bio-based innovation, enhance materials sovereignty, and foster green industrial transformation through science-led entrepreneurship.