Northvolt and Stora Enso are working on developing batteries from renewable wood
The two Scandinavian companies have the target to create sustainable batteries using lignin-based hard carbon produced with renewable wood from Nordic forests. Stora Enso is capable to produce lignin, a plant-derived polymer found in the cell walls of dry-land plants. Trees are composed of 20–30% of lignin.
Northvolt and Stora Enso have joined on an innovative project. The aim is to develop the world’s first industrialized batteries featuring anode sourced entirely from European raw materials, lowering both the carbon footprint and the cost. In other words, creating sustainable batteries using lignin-based hard carbon produced with renewable wood from Nordic forests.
Northvolt with Stora Enso for a new concept of batteries
Stora Enso will provide its lignin-based anode material Lignode, originating from sustainably managed forests, while Northvolt will drive cell design, production process development and scale-up of the technology. Let’s recall that Northvolt is currently building some high-capacity Gigafactories in Germany, as well as in Scandinavia (by the way, sharing other projects with Stora Enso itself).
To be more precise, it’s worth mentioning that lignin is a plant-derived polymer found in the cell walls of dry-land plants. Trees are composed of 20–30% of lignin, where it acts as a natural and strong binder. It is one of the biggest renewable sources of carbon anywhere. Stora Enso’s pilot plant for bio-based carbon materials is located at the Group’s Sunila production site in Finland, where lignin has been industrially produced since 2015. The annual lignin production capacity is 50,000 tonnes, making Stora Enso the largest kraft lignin producer in the world.
Statements from the partners
“The joint battery development with Northvolt marks a step on our journey to serve the fast-growing battery market with renewable anode materials made from trees. Our lignin-based hard carbon, Lignode by Stora Enso, will secure the strategic European supply of anode raw material, serving the sustainable battery needs for applications from mobility to stationary energy storage”, said Johanna Hagelberg, Executive Vice President for Biomaterials at Stora Enso.
“With this partnership, we are exploring a new source of sustainable raw material and expanding the European battery value chain, while also developing a less expensive battery chemistry. It is an exciting demonstration of how our pursuit of a sustainable battery industry goes hand-in-hand with creating a positive impact both on society and cost”, added Emma Nehrenheim, Chief Environmental Officer at Northvolt.
