A number of major commodity suppliers have joined a Finnish new-started battery cluster, whose goal is to secure investments for the development of battery plants in Finland.
The cooperation network was initiated last year by the city of Vaasa and an area near the city has been earmarked for the construction of future battery plants.
The companies in the network have established a consortium. These are Freeport Cobalt, Nornickel, Terrafame, Keliber and Beowulf Mining. The consortium has also launched a research project, "Green Minerals - Graphite, Exploration to Products".
The demand for batteries will grow more than tenfold from 2015 to 2020, especially in response to the increasing use of electric transport and renewable energy. Business Finland has launched Batteries from Finland, a two-year activation programme for the battery sector to get Finland into the European and global battery networks.
Asia produces 80 percent of the world’s batteries, especially primary batteries. Europe, too, has versatile expertise in battery technologies, and Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission in charge of Energy Union, encourages operators to develop safer batteries with the longer lifetime. He emphasizes the need to further develop the European batter expertise.
Finland has some of the raw materials and chemicals needed in the manufacturing of batteries. Now the goal is to master the higher value part of the chain, including the manufacturing and developing of battery cells. Finland will also invest in battery recycling.
“Finland has what it takes to build a significant battery cluster for raising the added value in Finland. We can provide a unique combination of raw materials, processing, and energy expertise in a reasonably-sized geographical area,” Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä says.
“Finland wants to be more than just the producer of raw materials. Our companies have competitive concepts and know-how throughout the value chain. The market is booming, and our primary objective is to get a slice of the new market, not to compete with existing operators. Business Finland sees here a great opportunity for Finland,” says Director-General Pekka Soini from Business Finland.
Source: Finnish Government
