Rain Carbon Germany GmbH, in partnership with Northern Graphite Corporation, H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH, and Friedrich Schiller University Jena, has launched the USE-G program. The €1.7 million project, largely funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, aims to develop environmentally friendly graphite extraction methods for Europe’s battery industry. This initiative focuses on cleaner technology and independence from Chinese supply chains.
USE-G Program Launch
Rain Carbon Germany GmbH, Northern Graphite Corporation, H.C. Starck Tungsten GmbH, and Friedrich Schiller University Jena announced the launch of USE-G: Environmentally Friendly and Safe Graphite Extraction for Europe’s Battery Industry. The initiative, dated February 2, 2026, is a three-year research and development program focused on environmentally friendly graphite extraction technologies.
Funding and Objectives
The program is funded largely by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, with a total budget of €1.7 million. The Ministry is contributing €1.14 million toward the project. The goal is to develop cleaner, less energy-intensive graphite processing technologies independent of Chinese supply chains.
Key Activities
Northern Graphite will supply natural graphite from its mines in Canada and Namibia. Northern Graphite will undertake milling and shaping of the graphite and battery testing at its lab in Germany. H.C. Starck Tungsten will extract graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries. Friedrich Schiller University Jena will lead the development of a novel purification method using chlorine gas.
Sustainability Focus
The USE-G project aims to develop coating materials and processes that reduce the environmental impact of battery material manufacturing. The partners will evaluate blending recycled and natural graphite to create a next-generation European product. All work will be conducted within Germany at partner facilities, with natural graphite supplied from Northern Graphite’s operations.
Source: BSE
