Norwegian battery technology and production company Morrow Batteries has officially inaugurated a gigawatt-scale factory for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in the country.
Located in Arendal, the new LFP battery facility was opened by Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, two years after he laid the cornerstone for the factory. The factory is said to be Europe’s first gigafactory dedicated to LFP batteries.
The new plant will enable Morrow Batteries to produce up to three million battery cells per year, equating to 1GWh of capacity.
Test production at the new LFP battery plant is already underway. Morrow Batteries is collaborating closely with customers to fine-tune the production equipment to meet serial production standards over the coming months.
Commercial production is scheduled to begin by the end of the year.
According to the company, LFP batteries are increasingly vital for achieving a zero-emission society, playing a key role in battery energy storage systems, heavy-duty machinery, and mid-range electric vehicles (EVs).
Morrow Batteries has been producing and shipping thousands of LFP sample cells to potential customers for testing and validation at the company’s customer qualification line (CQL) since November last year.
The company is now prepared to deliver a commercially viable, thoroughly tested, and competitive LFP product.
The installation of the dry room, utilities, and production equipment required more than 366,000 working hours, equivalent to 200 man-years, said Morrow Batteries.
During the construction phase of the facility, 1,650 people completed mandatory health, safety, and security (HSE) training, with no accidents reported during the construction or equipment installation.
The new cell factory will employ approximately 150 people working on a shift schedule.
Morrow Batteries CEO Lars Bacher said: “Our achievements today would not have been possible without the unwavering support from the Arendal municipality, local and national government, and our committed shareholders.
“Together, we are paving the way for a sustainable energy future to make Europe more competitive and safe.
“As a result of the efforts put in by many, Arendal has become the first city in Europe to host a giga LFP factory, contributing jobs, value-creation, and positioned for significant export revenues.”
