Materials firm Elkem has received NOK10 million ($1 million) in financial support from state enterprise Enova to fund the initial planning of the potential large-scale battery materials plant in Norway.
The battery graphite plant named Northern Recharge will supply the battery industry through a competitive production process.
The project will produce synthetic graphite and composites, which are the leading anode materials in lithium-ion battery cells.
In August, Elkem announced it would build the plant in Herøya, one of the biggest industrial parks in Norway.
The company is constructing an industrial scale pilot plant for battery graphite in Kristiansand, Norway. Due to be commissioned early next year, the pilot aims to conclude processing routes and enhance the product qualification process with customers. This project is supported by Innovation Norway.
Vice president for Elkem Battery Materials, Stian Madshus, said: “Our Northern Recharge project competitively positions us for large-scale and cost-effective material science solutions for the rapidly developing European battery industry.”
Enova is owned by the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, and supports the development of energy and climate technology.
