Elkem picks site for large-scale battery graphite plant in Norway

Norwegian silicon-based materials supplier Elkem SA said today it has picked a site at home where it will produce battery graphite.

The company’s Northern Recharge project will be located at the Heroya Industrial Park. In a pilot project, Elkem will assess the prospects for a large-scale production plant to serve the battery industry.

Elkem’s CEO Michael Koenig highlighted the growing opportunities on the battery materials market arising from the increased electrification in transport and the need for battery storage. “This requires new production capacity for battery materials, and we see significant opportunities for a specialised product with a green footprint," he pointed out.

The company's plan is to power the plant with renewable energy, most likely hydropower. It intends to progress the project towards a planned final investment decision in 2021. Industrial and financial partners will be invited to join.

Demand for graphite, which is a major anode material used in lithium-ion batteries, is expected to jump more than 10 times between now and 2030.

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