New industrialisation with battery manufacturing projects

As part of the transition to a fossil-free energy system, Sweco has recently worked on several battery manufacturing projects across Europe. Belgium’s largest copper producer has been assisted by Sweco consultants’ expertise in the construction of a state-of-the-art recycling plant for the battery metals copper and nickel.

Transformation of 120-year old paper mill into a modern battery factory

In Sweden, Sweco is working with Northvolt- the European supplier of sustainable, high-quality battery cells and systems, to convert the century old Kvarnsveden pulp and paper mill in Borlänge into a gigafactory for active material and battery cells.

The conversion of the mill will be characterised by circularity; the goal for the project is that everything that is demolished (including steel and concrete) will be reused, as well as refurbishing much of the existing facilities and site infrastructure.

The gigafactory is expected to enter operations in late 2024, utilising 100 percent clean energy from the region where the plant is located in central Sweden, to produce up to 100 GWh of cathode material to enable cell assembly at multiple Northvolt facilities.

Sweco will also develop a plan for logistics solutions and technical supply and contribute to the application for an environmental permit. The assignment involves Sweco experts in transport infrastructure, building construction, energy, industry and the environment who are all working to deliver modern and innovative solutions that contribute to the transformation of this mill.

Accelerating the green shift

In Porsgrunn/Herøya, Sweco Norway is working with sustainable battery materials producer Vianode to convert buildings for the production of graphite – an important material in the production of batteries for electric cars. Sweco will assist Vianode in facilitating the establishment of the factory.

A rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which is the type of battery typically used in electric cars, consists of four main components: cathode, anode, electrolyte and separator. Graphite is the most commonly used anode material today. Measured by weight, the anode makes up about 15 per cent of the battery. In a medium-sized electric car, there will typically be around 70 kilogrammes of graphite, as anode material.

Once the with conversion of buildings is completed, the Vianode production facility will supply battery materials for several thousand electric cars. The initial goal is to supply battery materials to over 20,000 electric cars, before production is scaled up to deliveries of materials to 2 million electric cars a year by 2030.