Clean Energy Counsel Represents Graphyte in Landmark Carbon Removal Investment

Clean Energy Counsel represented Graphyte, Inc., a leading carbon removal company focused on durable, scalable carbon dioxide removal, in a landmark project-level investment announced on June 3, 2026. Partner Marlena Schultz led the transaction for the firm with support from Max Learner and Gary Stapleton.

Global trading conglomerate Sumitomo Corporation acquired an equity stake in Graphyte's Loblolly project in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, marking one of the first known instances of project-level investment in a durable carbon removal facility. The transaction reflects a growing recognition that the durable carbon removal industry is maturing and that project-level investment is a critical unlock for scaling proven carbon removal technologies.

The joint venture between Graphyte and Sumitomo will initially focus on the Loblolly facility, which has issued over 15,000 durable carbon removal credits to customers to date and will generate 50,000 credits annually with this expansion. The partnership will also enable the development and expansion of additional projects across new geographies and commercial markets.

Graphyte’s proprietary Carbon Casting technology combines long-duration permanence, low-energy inputs, and immediate scalability using widely available biomass, enabling low-cost, durable carbon removal. The technology uses engineered storage to permanently sequester compressed biomass.

This transaction underscores an acceleration in global investment behind durable carbon removal as companies seek scalable pathways to long-term decarbonization.