Why Elinor Batteries is Investing in Battery Production in Central Norway

Elinor Batteries aims to put Trøndelag on the map in a rapidly growing global market. Central Norway has all the necessary ingredients to create a profitable, sustainable, and circular battery cluster.

Arne Fredrik Lånke, CEO of Elinor Batteries

The ambition to establish a battery factory while promoting the development of a battery cluster in Central Norway is a direct response to a global market with tremendous demand for sustainably produced batteries. 

This development aligns perfectly with the Norwegian government's battery strategy, recognizing the immense potential for value creation through battery production. Battery production contributes significantly to public revenue and is set to create more jobs and contribute more to the welfare state than both existing and new green industries.

Elinor Batteries is facing this future industry head-on. The company's plans incorporate the government's emphasis on circular and sustainable solutions in battery production. This will require initial investments in both real estate and capital but will pay off in terms of job creation and regional economic benefits.

Everything is in place to achieve this. If we succeed, we will establish Trøndelag in a global market with explosive demand, with a new, forward-thinking, and sustainable industry.
— Arne Fredrik Lånke, CEO of Elinor Batteries

Why Orkland is Ideal

Elinor Batteries plans to build a gigantic factory for battery cell production in a new industrial area currently under development in Orkland municipality. The green industrial park, Eiktyr, is strategically situated between two central grid transformers, ensuring access to renewable and cost-effective power.

Eiktyr Industrial Park is set to become Norway's largest green industrial park, designed to facilitate circular industrial development – both through solutions for water usage, waste management, and heat recycling and by being spacious enough to accommodate several parts of the battery industry in one area.

The choice of Orkland and Central Norway as a location for battery production is anything but random.
— Arne Fredrik Lånke, CEO of Elinor Batteries

There are more reasons why Elinor Batteries believes Orkland and Eiktyr is the best-suited area in Norway for battery production. For example, Orkland's proximity to Trondheim, which hosts a significant research and technology ecosystem.

Elinor Batteries already collaborates closely with leading battery technology and research organizations in Trondheim, such as SINTEF and NTNU. Such collaborations in technology, development, education, and test production strengthen the collective Central Norwegian battery cluster.

Bringing together raw material and battery production, logistics, and recycling in the same industrial area not only streamlines the entire battery value chain but is equally important from an environmental perspective.
— Arne Fredrik Lånke, CEO of Elinor Batteries

Locally in Orkland, Elinor works closely with the municipality to ensure that the battery project develops sustainably and contributes to prosperity and growth. The presence of essential infrastructure in the area, including a deep-water port, and a strong focus on the circular economy within the community, is also advantageous.

Circular Industrial Development in Eiktyr

As plans for battery production in Orkland progress, Elinor Batteries collaborates closely with Norsk Industriutvikling, the company developing the Eiktyr industrial park in Orkland.

Establishing sustainable and circular battery production requires sufficient space and the ability to implement modern water and heat management solutions. Locating in Eiktyr allows for this and facilitates the co-location of different parts of the value chain.

A cluster-based approach is highly recommended by both the EU and companies like McKinsey. In Eiktyr industrial park, there will also be room for, for example, recycling and battery cell recovery technologies.

In the process of regulating Eiktyr industrial park, The Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA) and others have been involved from the beginning. Together with Norsk Industriutvikling, NINA is developing a methodology to provide a comprehensive natural impact assessment for the new industrial area.

This is the first time such an assessment is being carried out for an industrial project in Norway. The methodology needs to be developed from scratch, but this work is crucial to ensure that the future industrial activities in Eiktyr have a solid, sustainable foundation.
— Arne Fredrik Lånke, CEO of Elinor Batteries

This is what you need to know about Elinor Batteries' planned factory in Orkland:

  • Elinor Batteries plans to build a giga-scale factory for battery production in Central Norway.

  • The factory will be located in Eiktyr industrial park, under development in Orkland municipality.

  • Elinor Batteries is owned by the green investment company Valinor.

  • Factory construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2024.

  • The goal is to commence production in 2026/2027.

  • The factory will be expanded in multiple phases, reducing financial and technological risks.

  • Ultimately, the factory will have a full-scale capacity of 40 GWh, providing up to 2500 jobs.

Norway’s Battery Strategy in short:

Norway's Battery Strategy consists of 10 measures on how Norway will develop a connected and profitable battery value chain.

  • The strategy includes facilitating international partnerships and providing capital in the form of loans and guarantees to attract private investment.

  • The government has also committed to enabling more renewable power access, providing central infrastructure, and ensuring efficient and coordinated public processes.

All these steps are essential for Norway to succeed in building a battery industry.

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Norway's Unique Advantage in the Global Battery Market