It’s specialty coke, and Phillips 66 sees it as a path toward a cleaner tomorrow

What do two Phillips 66 refineries, an ocean apart, have in common when it comes to a lower-carbon future?

The Humber Refinery in the United Kingdom and the Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex in Louisiana both produce a critical material used in lithium-ion batteries. It's called specialty coke, and it's used to make synthetic graphite anodes for the batteries that power EVs and electronics like smartphones. Specialty coke is also an important resource for helping reduce the steel industry's carbon footprint.

"We are driving innovations that are essential to a lower-carbon future for everyone. We have the people, capabilities and assets to meet the rising demand, and it's exciting to know that our products are helping create change in the energy industry and in many other industries as well," said Zhanna Golodryga, Phillips 66's Executive Vice President, Emerging Energy and Sustainability.

Meeting the Growing Battery Demand

When it comes to lithium-ion battery production, Phillips 66 has a business advantage. Humber is the only facility that produces specialty coke in Europe, and with that asset and Lake Charles, Phillips 66 is well positioned to be a leading supplier of battery anode precursor materials on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

The U.S. battery market is growing. The International Energy Agency predicts that by 2030, almost one in five cars sold in the United States will be electric. Government incentives like the Inflation Reduction Act are encouraging U.S. companies to develop battery production capabilities.

"High-quality graphite anodes are instrumental in developing EV batteries that provide greater driving range, faster charging and enhanced longevity," said Scott Brombosz, Technical Director of Phillips 66's Emerging Energy organization and a former battery scientist.

Enabling Sustainable Steel Production

According to the American Iron and Steel Institute, a key factor in decarbonizing the steel industry is an accelerated adoption of electric arc furnace (EAF) technology, which generates about 75% fewer emissions compared to blast furnace steel production. EAFs use graphite electrodes to create electric arcs to melt scrap steel or other iron material to produce recycled steel. Graphite electrodes made from Phillips 66 specialty coke manufactured at the Humber and Lake Charles refineries help to efficiently channel the power required to produce liquid steel from the scrap sources, which promotes sustainability through material efficiency and recyclability.

Ensuring Consistency and Reliability

Whether the specialty coke is destined for the steel industry or battery manufacturing, Phillips 66 leverages proprietary processes and on-site coke testing laboratories to assure a high level of consistency in product quality. Phillips 66 production sites also benefit from the expertise of the company's Energy Research and Innovation Center in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, which has conducted dedicated research in specialty coke for decades.

"Ultimately," said Golodryga, "Phillips 66's technical know-how, proven track record and strategically located assets position the company as a reliable supplier to customers in North America and globally."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.