The Swedish battery cell producer Northvolt has now formally introduced the situation of its deliberate manufacturing unit in Canada. As suspected, it is going to be constructed close to Montreal within the Canadian province of Quebec, particularly on a 170-hectare web site in McMasterville and Saint-Basile-le-Grand. The selection of the positioning round 25 kilometres east of Montreal can be justified by the supply of unpolluted vitality from hydropower.
Along with the precise location, there are additionally additional particulars in regards to the manufacturing unit itself: Known as Northvolt Six, the battery cell manufacturing unit will probably be designed for an annual capability of 60 gigawatt hours and could have adjoining amenities for the manufacturing of energetic cathode materials and for recycling batteries. Manufacturing is scheduled to begin in 2026.
Building of the primary section, with a capability of 30 GWh per yr, will start earlier than the tip of 2023, Northvolt stated. This primary section of cathode and cell manufacturing, mixed with recycling, is anticipated to require a complete funding of seven billion Canadian {dollars} or 4.9 billion euros and make use of as much as 3,000 folks. In July, company studies nonetheless talked about an funding of seven billion US {dollars}, in reality it’s seven billion CAD – about 5 billion US {dollars}.
Northvolt receives “sturdy assist from the federal government of Canada and the federal government of Québec”, however this isn’t specified. By means of comparability, the large VW battery manufacturing unit in St. Thomas in Ontario might be being funded to the tune of round 14 billion Canadian {dollars} – however it is usually designed to provide 90 GWh. Northvolt is the most important personal funding in Quebec historical past.
“Since Northvolt was based seven years in the past, we have now had one aim: to determine a brand new, sustainable mannequin for battery manufacturing. Immediately, we’re increasing Northvolt’s ambitions into Canada,” says Northvolt’s co-founder and CEO Peter Carlsson in his firm’s announcement, launched in English and French in parallel.
The North American division, Northvolt North America, primarily based in Montreal, will probably be led by Paolo Cerruti as CEO, who additionally co-founded Northvolt. “With its distinctive entry to renewable vitality and uncooked supplies, we see this as an excellent location for Northvolt’s first Gigafactory outdoors Europe. We stay up for working with all native stakeholders and the province to make Northvolt Six a major instance of sustainable funding,” says Cerruti.
northvolt.com (in French)