Displaying items by tag: Vianode

Vianode, an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions, has signed the Antwerp Declaration to support revitalisation and strengthening of Europe's industrial landscape.

The Antwerp Declaration is a visionary call to action for embedding industrialisation at the heart of the European Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029. This declaration seeks to establish a European Industrial Deal based on ten concrete initiatives to support industrial innovation and production as key drivers for future growth and sustainability.

Vianode's CEO, Burkhard Straube, expressed great support for the initiative: “The Antwerp Declaration resonates with our mission to support decarbonising transportation through our advanced battery materials. Our strategic roadmap is clear: to supply on a large industrial scale low-emission, high-performance anode graphite solutions that are essential for sustainable batteries and EVs. This commitment not only highlights our dedication to innovation but also our role in driving a competitive, sustainable, and resilient future for the European industry."

Vianode has produced anode graphite solutions at its industrial pilot plant in Kristiansand, Norway since 2021. In 2022, the company opened its technology center at the same site and the company is now preparing start-up of the first full scale production plant at Herøya, Norway.

“We will deliver our first large-scale made-in-Europe customer samples later this year and have ambitions to contribute to shaping Europe's sustainable industrialisation”, Chief Commercial Officer Stefan Bergold added.

Echoing the importance of this initiative, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, host of the Antwerp industry summit, emphasised: "We need our industry for their innovation capacity. To come up with tomorrow’s climate solutions. That is why Europe should not only be a continent of industrial innovation but should remain a continent of industrial production."

Vianode is dedicated to spearheading industrial innovation and was last year selected to lead a USD 7 million project supported by the Norwegian Research Council. The initiative targets to develop cutting-edge technologies for data capture and advanced process control, thereby reinforcing its commitment to the Antwerp Declaration's vision of a sustainable and innovative European industrial landscape.

Vianode is also awarded a EUR 30 million IPCEI EUBatIn grant designed to expedite green transition innovations to market at scale and a EUR 90 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund to support the preparation of large-scale innovative production of battery materials.

Launched earlier this year, the Antwerp Declaration had more than 800 signatories of which close to 600 are companies as of March 25 2024.

About Vianode
Vianode is an advanced battery materials company providing sustainable anode graphite solutions for the battery and EV value chains in North America and Europe. Vianode’s breakthrough solution enables tailored high-performance synthetic anode graphite and a holistic sustainability offering including a 90% reduction in CO2 footprint. The company is currently preparing to start its full scale plant at Herøya, Norway, before executing its multi-billion dollar phased investment program for large-scale plants in North America and Europe. The long-term ambition is to supply advanced battery materials to 3 million EVs per year by 2030. Vianode is owned by the world-leading industrial and financial companies Hydro and Altor.

Vianode, a company owned by Elkem, Hydro and Altor, has decided to invest in its first industrial-scale plant for sustainable battery materials at Herøya in Norway.

The investment of around NOK 2 billion will create new industrial jobs and provide critical battery materials. The decision is an important step towards establishing a complete battery value chain in Norway for the European market.

The industrial plant at Herøya, Norway, will produce anode graphite for about 20,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per year by 2024. This investment is the first phase in a larger investment plan. The plant construction will be carried out in parallel with preparations for a second phase plant scaled to provide battery materials to 2 million EVs per year by 2030, covering a significant share of the global EV market.

“The investment decision marks a historic step for Vianode and its owners and is a recognition of the work put in by both our employees and partners. Based on strong support from owners Elkem, Hydro and Altor, Vianode now has a solid foundation to succeed with building industrial leadership in advanced battery materials with a green footprint,” says Asbjørn Søvik, Vianode’s interim CEO and executive chair of the board.

The graphite materials from Vianode are produced with up to 90 percent lower CO₂ emissions than today’s standard materials. The materials have unique performance characteristics and improve the properties in batteries, including faster charging, increased range and longer service life, as well as increased safety and recyclability.

“The global demand for batteries is growing rapidly, driven by the green transition, but there is not sufficient ramp-up of battery materials production. Europe is facing a significant shortfall of graphite materials towards 2030, which Vianode aims to address with our high-performance offerings. Automakers and authorities are also increasingly focused on a sustainable value chain, where Vianode has a unique offering with our low CO₂ footprint,” says Stian Madshus, general manager for Vianode.

Today, an EV contains on average up to 70 kg of graphite materials, representing a vital component of the battery. Vianode’s products are developed based on specialized know how in high-temperature processes, closed production systems, lower energy consumption and access to renewable energy. This makes Vianode an important contributor to the European supply of critical materials needed for the energy transition.

Vianode has operated an industrial pilot in Kristiansand, Norway since April 2021 and has ambitions to establish industrial leadership in advanced battery materials in Europe and for the global market.

Founded in 2021, Vianode has around 60 employees. Today’s investment decision means that the company will be recruiting approximately 100 new hires, bringing the total to around 160 by the end of 2023. With a potential investment decision for a second phase plant, this can double to 300 employees by the end of 2026. Including ripple effects, this means around 1000 jobs in total.

About Vianode
Vianode is built upon technological advancements and decades of industrial experience, backed by Elkem, Hydro and Altor. Following successful pilot production, the company is now scaling up towards full scale production in Norway. Vianode’s range of anode graphite products offer unique performance characteristics and are produced with up to 90 percent lower CO₂ emissions than today's standard materials – supporting the ambitions of leading battery cell and automotive manufacturers while accelerating the green transition. Our purpose: Driving responsible electrification. www.vianode.com

About Elkem
Elkem is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw materials, renewable energy and human ingenuity. Elkem helps its customers create and improve essential innovations like electric mobility, digital communications, health and personal care as well as smarter and more sustainable cities. With a strong track record since 1904, its global team of more than 7,000 people has a joint commitment to stakeholders: Delivering your potential. In 2022, Elkem obtained a Platinum score from EcoVadis, which rated the company among the world's top 1% on sustainability transparency, and the company achieved an operating income of NOK 33.7 billion. Elkem is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: ELK). www.elkem.com

Vianode, established as a fully owned subsidiary of Elkem ASA dedicated to strategic growth opportunities for advanced battery materials, has successfully operationalized its industrial pilot in Kristiansand, Norway. To enable faster market entry of Vianode’s products, the company has entered into a lease agreement for an additional building at Herøya Industrial Park in Porsgrunn, Norway. The initiative targets to shorten the time to production start and increase Vianode’s overall capacity at Herøya Industrial Park.

The building has been secured through a lease agreement between Vianode and Herøya Industrial Park.

The building is located next to the site where Vianode plans to establish the large-scale plant and is intended for a fast-track option that is being considered to address the strong demand from customers and to shorten time to market. A fast-track plant will also represent a platform for further technology and process development.

“Our industrial pilot in Kristiansand, Norway is now operational with over 200 metric tons of annual capacity available for customer development with scaled up equipment. At the same time, we see an acceleration in the market driving a need for larger volumes of industrially produced materials earlier than expected. Our objective for a fast-track plant is a response to this customer demand”, says Chris York, VP at Vianode.

The potential fast-track plant at Herøya can add an additional 5,000 metric tons of production capacity, bringing Vianode’s total production at Herøya to approximately 60,000 metric tons of synthetic graphite – equivalent to close to 1 million electric vehicles per year.

“Our ambition is to be able to deliver sustainably produced, high quality, active anode materials for the exponentially growing electric vehicle market starting from the end of 2022”, says Stian Madshus, VP and General Manager Europe at Vianode.

In parallel, the Vianode organisation is growing and the company is looking to add additional talent for those who want help “Empower a Greener Life”. Vianode is creating long-term solutions for active anode materials in support of the clean energy transition to energy storage for renewables and electric vehicles.

Vianode’s advanced battery materials increase safety and reduce charging time in electric vehicles and other sophisticated energy storage applications.

“It is very positive that Vianode has signed an agreement to lease building 132. Vianode plans to start a fast-track plant and the building and infrastructure are excellent for the purpose. This lease agreement strengthens our belief in a decision to invest in large-scale industrial production at Herøya Industrial Park”, says CEO Sverre Gotaas, Herøya Industrial Park AS.

In addition to synthetic graphite materials, Vianode and Elkem continue to carry out advanced research on silicon-graphite composite materials for improved battery performance for the years to come. Vianode is participating in the Hydra and 3beLiEVe research projects on next generation lithium-ion batteries, coordinated by SINTEF and the Austrian Institute of Technology, respectively. Both projects have received funding from the EU Horizon programme. Vianode is also investing in R&D on recycling of battery-grade graphite which is supported by the Norwegian Research Council.

Vianode has previously received grants from Innovation Norway related to the pilot plant and from Enova for planning the battery materials industrial plant.

About Vianode, an Elkem company
Vianode, an Elkem company, is a producer of sustainably engineered battery materials that increases safety and reduces charging time in electric vehicles and enables better solutions for energy storage applications. Please also visit www.vianode.com.

About Elkem
Elkem is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced material solutions shaping a better and more sustainable future. The company develops silicones, silicon products and carbon solutions by combining natural raw materials, renewable energy, and human ingenuity. Elkem helps its customers create and improve essential innovations like electric mobility, digital communications, health, and personal care as well as smarter and more sustainable cities. With a strong track record since 1904, its global team of more than 6,800 people has a joint commitment to stakeholders: Delivering your potential. In 2020, Elkem was rated among the world’s top 5% on climate and achieved an operating income of NOK 24.7 billion. Elkem is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: ELK). www.elkem.com