Elinor Batteries is a major step closer to establishing large-scale battery production in Central Norway after the Norwegian government approved the zoning plan for Eiktyr Industrial Park in Orkland.
Elinor Batteries and Norsk Industriutvikling.
2 November, the Minister of Local Government and Regional Development announced the decision at a press conference in Orkland today, concluding several years of planning and environmental impact assessments.
The approval strengthens the basis for Elinor Batteries to advance its planned gigafactory and discussions with industrial partners and investors. The approved plan incorporates changes to reduce environmental impacts, with minor implications for Elinor’s planned development.
“This is by far the most significant milestone in Elinor Batteries’ development to date. After years of extensive planning and impact assessments, the plan has now secured political approval at every level, from local to national. That gives us greater confidence than ever in our choice of Eiktyr for our planned battery manufacturing base,” says Arne Fredrik Lånke, CEO of Elinor Batteries.
Illustration of Eiktyr Industrial Park. Photo: Cleve Broch AS.
A breakthrough for Norwegian battery ambitions
The Nordic battery industry has faced several challenging years, but the underlying market opportunity remains strong. Batteries are increasingly important to Europe’s energy systems, transport and industry. Elinor Batteries aims to help meet that demand through large-scale manufacturing at Eiktyr and the development of European battery value chains.
“Eiktyr brings together the scale, renewable power and proximity to leading technology environments that battery manufacturing requires. Our ambition is to turn those advantages into competitive European battery production and long-term industrial value creation in Norway,” Lånke says.
Eiktyr Industrial Park is being developed to bring together complementary industries that can share infrastructure, resources and energy. Its proximity to Trondheim connects the site to Norway’s leading research and technology community, creating opportunities for collaboration across the battery value chain.
The approval gives Elinor Batteries a stronger basis for advancing its planned factory and engaging industrial partners and investors.
“Long-term industrial investment depends on predictable conditions. This decision gives our investors, partners and future customers greater certainty about Eiktyr as the location for our planned factory. We can now build on that certainty to bring the right partners together and take the project forward,” says Lånke.
