Chemicals firm BASF has confirmed the location of its new battery materials production site in Germany as it steps up investment into the European electric vehicle (EV) value chain.
The state-of-the art plant in Schwarzheide will initially produce enough cathode active materials (CAM) for around 400,000 full electric vehicles per year, says the German conglomerate.
The plant will use precursors from the company’s battery materials plant in Finland. Production at both plants is planned for next year.
BASF aims to become the leading supplier of base metals, particularly nickel and cobalt, precursor production, and cathode material production within a single region, namely Europe.
Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, president, Catalysts division at BASF, said: “The plants in Finland and Germany will offer our customers reliable access to tailored high-nickel cathode active materials in proximity to their European manufacturing facilities.”
The Harjavalta plant in Finland will use renewable energy resources, including hydro, wind and biomass-based power to lower the CO2 footprint of CAM material production.