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© Northvolt SWECO
Electronics Production |

Northvolt moves on to next step in site-selection process

Northvolt proceeds with discussions with eight Swedish and two Finnish municipalities to identify the optimal site for a large scale battery production facility.

Physical preconditions, logistics, local business climate and the ability to attract highly skilled labor have been particularly important in the selection process. Northvolt are now proceeding discussions with Gothenburg, Gävle, Luleå, Malmö, Mariestad-Skövde, Norrköping, Skellefteå and Västerås in Sweden, and with Kotka-Hamina and Vaasa in Finland. Northvolt’s aim is to accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral society by building Europe’s largest battery factory. The ongoing site-selection process is a central and critical part of the ambitious project.
Peter Carlsson - © Northvolt
"We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest from municipalities and regions across Scandinavia. We’ve talked to some forty stakeholders and decided to proceed in discussions with eight Swedish and two Finnish municipalities. We’re moving forward swiftly to make sure we’re taking a leading role in the European market”, says Northvolt’s CEO Peter Carlsson. The company has a list of different requirements that needs to be fulfilled for it to commit to building what is said to be Europes largest battery factory. There need to be land suitable for industrial activity, power supply, proximity to water for cooling, conditions for environmental and other permits. Additionally, logistic conditions, including access to port, rail and an international airport, will be taken into account. Northvolt is also evaluating the local labor market, industrial tradition, and vicinity to universities. Northvolt will hire a large number – between 2'500 to 3'000 as states by CEO Peter Carlsson during a telephone conference – of highly specialised engineers, many from Asia or the United States, which adds yet another evaluation criteria as the factory must be located in a region that is attractive to talented professionals. The company believes that the overall regional impact will lead to far more job opportunities, as the factory will bring an increasing demand for transportation, convenience services and public service, as well as housing and education. Northvolt will continue with in-depth assessments of the remaining municipalities. The aim is to have a decision in place this summer with regards to which sites the company should proceed with for environmental assessments and permitting processes. "We’ve met strong support for our ambitious plan from both the public and private sectors. We’re confident that we have a competitive business model in place. We have a unique opportunity to build a new industry that will help accelerate the transition into a fossil free society, and at the same time contribute to societal development, growth and thousands of new jobs." says Peter Carlsson.

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March 15 2024 2:25 pm V22.4.5-2
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