Battery production

Northvolt One. The energy of the future is created here.

Construction has begun in Skellefteå on what could become Europe's largest lithium-ion battery production plant. A journey that many want to be part of. In which Skellefteå has the privilege of being at the centre.

Northvolt, whose goal is to build the world's greenest batteries with minimal carbon emissions, is the company that will drive this forward. Access to renewable electricity, locally produced metals and recycling of the batteries will make this possible and in turn contribute to Europe's transition to renewable energy.

Together

For Skellefteå, it all started with a phone call to Northvolt from business developer Anja Palm. A week later, Skellefteå had sent in the first evidence of what the location had to offer an energy-intensive establishment of Northvolt's size. Skellefteå Municipality, Skellefteå Kraft, the business community, the university, county representatives, residents and associations have since worked together to ensure that the facility will be located in Skellefteå. With a strong drive, Skellefteå, which was not even a possible location at first, became the final choice for the establishment.

- Skellefteå has shown that we have the necessary conditions for an establishment of this kind. We can offer 100% renewable energy production, an attractive site, a well-functioning port, proximity to transport links and a high quality of life with the possibility of rapidly increasing the construction of homes and schools that will be needed," says Kristina Sundin Jonsson, municipal manager in Skellefteå.

A holistic change in society

When asked about the side effects of the Northvolt decision, Lars Hedqvist, head of planning at Skellefteå municipality, says that Skellefteå has seen positive development over the past two years, with more people moving in and a fruitful business community.

- It would be easy to say that the progress we are making today is entirely due to Northvolt, but that's not really the case. We were already making efforts to pave the way for the 80,000 population target. Northvolt deciding to come here is the icing on the cake. Other industries that were already coming here have been strengthened in their choice. Of course, there are also some companies that want to establish themselves because Northvolt has announced that they generate great needs for logistics, for example," says Lars Hedqvist and continues:

- Northvolt is talking about 2,000 - 2,500 people in the workforce. This will lead to increased commuting from the local area as well as immigration both nationally and internationally. It will bring about an overall change in society that will affect many people. Construction alone will provide thousands of jobs which in turn will boost shops, restaurants, hotels, transport companies, builders, those working in electrical, plumbing, machinery and installations. Overall, it has a very big impact.

About the Northvolt One construction project

In Bergsbyn there is a new industrial area where both Skellefteå municipality and Skellefteå Kraft own a large part of the land. There have long been plans to develop the industrial area for the establishment of energy-intensive industry, plans that were brought forward by Northvolt's interest. Work on the industrial site will take place in stages. Northvolt will then have the right to purchase the industrial site when it is completed. The project has the same name as the factory; Northvolt One. Northvolt, Skellefteå Municipality and Skellefteå Kraft have created a joint project organisation for how the work will be carried out in the future, with Mikael Lindmark, Skellefteå Kraft, as project manager.

- The work in the area includes land preparation, fibre connection, district heating, waste heat recirculation, electricity grid connection and process and cooling water, Mikael says and continues:

- Skellefteå Municipality is responsible for water and sewerage, an extension of Torsgatan to road 372 (where Trafikverket will connect a traffic interchange), a pedestrian and bicycle path that will run parallel to Torsgatan, and road lighting. There is also the possibility of extending the existing railway line to the industrial estate

Ground was broken in summer 2018 for the first quarter of the factory, which is expected to be completed in 2020. After that, the factory will be built at a rate of one phase per year, making it fully operational by 2023. The large-scale factory in Skellefteå, when fully operational, will be able to produce batteries with a total capacity of 32 GWh per year.

More information about Northvolt One:
northvoltett.skelleftea.se External link.

More information about Northvolt
northvolt.com External link.

More information about Skellefteå Kraft
skekraft.se External link.

Sidinformation

Senast uppdaterad:
2 March 2023