Vianode to build battery materials factory in Norway

Vianode has announced that it will invest around two billion Norwegian kroner (the equivalent of around 195 million euros) in a factory for electric car battery materials in Norway. Graphite-based anode materials will be produced there.

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The battery materials subsidiary of the Norwegian metal producer Elkem, founded in 2021, plans to produce graphite anode materials for the batteries of about 20,000 electric vehicles per year at the new plant in Herøya from 2024. In a second phase, the plant is to be scaled up to supply battery materials for two million electric vehicles annually from 2030. Preparations for the second phase will be advanced in parallel with the construction of the first stage, the company said. So far, Vianode operates a pilot plant in Kristiansand.

Due to the availability of renewable energy at the Herøya site, Vianode wants to be able to produce its graphite materials with up to 90 per cent lower CO2 emissions than “today’s standard materials”. The new materials are also expected to improve the properties of the batteries, for example in terms of charging performance, range, durability, safety and recyclability. Up to 70 kilograms of graphite materials are installed in each electric car.

“The investment decision marks a historic step for Vianode and its owners and is a recognition of the work put in by both our employees and partners,” says Asbjørn Søvik, interim CEO of the company. “Based on strong support from owners Elkem, Hydro and Altor, Vianode now has a solid foundation to succeed with building industrial leadership in advanced battery materials with a green footprint.”

Update 17 April 2023

Vianode has bought the building for its announced e-car battery materials production factory in Norway. The factory, which will be built in this existing building in Herøya, will produce graphite-based anode materials for the batteries of initially about 20,000 electric vehicles per year from 2024 and will be scaled to supply battery materials for two million electric vehicles per year from 2030.

vianode.com, cision.com (update)