Swedish battery manufacturer Alelion Energy Systems has announced plans to build “Sweden’s first large-scale” lithium batteries plant near Gothenburg.
The facility, which is expected to be complete this year, will produce batteries for industrial and other applications near the Volvo manufacturing plant in Torslanda. It will have an initial production capacity of 500MWh per year.
Automated production lines will allow Alelion to produce “completely” customised batteries based on modules, the company said.
Alelion said it is developing new lithium-ion technology to meet industrial standardisation and specific requirements— and has already received undisclosed funding from Gothenburg-based investment firm Pegroco Invest and the state-owned venture capital company Fouriertransform.
Alelion’s CEO Daniel Troedsson said the “flexible production model” of the new plant will mean it is able to “handle both current and future battery technologies, which is a major advantage in a market characterised by rapid technological development”.
Troedsson said he sees “steadily increasing interest in electrification and sustainable energy solutions”. “With a dedicated production facility, we are able to profitably take advantage of the commercial opportunities of lithium technology,” he added.
Alelion started in lithium-ion batteries in 2006 and is a supplier to some of the world’s largest manufacturers of forklifts including Toyota Material Handling and Jungheinrich.
Alelion’s announcement comes just weeks after another Swedish lithium-ion battery maker, Northvolt, said it would partner two of the countries’ cities in setting up “Europe’s largest and most cutting-edge lithium-ion battery manufacturing” operation.