Panasonic: Considering new battery factory in Europe: Equinor and Hydro
Panasonic:
On November 18, it announced that it would start market research in the battery business in Europe in collaboration with Norwegian Equinor and aluminum giant Norsk Hydro.
Equinor:
Known as one of the major European oil companies to develop the North Sea oil field.
In recent years, we will focus on offshore wind power plants and shift to “renewable energy majors”.
Norsk Hydro:
Norsk Hydro, a major aluminum company.
We are entering the recycling of battery materials that utilize refining technology.
In-vehicle battery manufacturer:
LG Chem and Samsung SDI of South Korea have already expanded into Eastern Europe.
China’s Ningde Period New Energy Technology (CATL) is also constructing a huge factory in Thuringia, central Germany.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO66370910Y0A111C2000000/
Panasonic, Equinor and Hydro to explore potential for European battery business
Panasonic,
energy company Equinor
industrial group Hydro
have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to form a strategic partnership to explore possibilities for establishing a sustainable and cost-competitive European battery business.
The companies will work together towards summer 2021 to assess the market
for lithium-ion batteries in Europe and mature the business case for a green battery business located in Norway.
The companies intend that this initiative
is based on Panasonic’s leading technology and targets the European market for electric vehicles and other applications.
The companies will also investigate
the potential for an integrated battery value chain and for co-location of supply chain partners.
The findings from this initial exploratory phase will form the basis for subsequent decisions.
Mototsugu Sato,
Executive Vice President of Panasonic
This collaboration combines Panasonic’s position as an innovative technology company and leader in lithium-ion batteries,
Equinor and Hydro,
with the deep industrial experience of Equinor and Hydro, both strong global players, to potentially pave way for a robust and sustainable battery business in Norway.
The creation of this world-class battery partnership demonstrates Equinor’s ambition to become a broad energy company.
We believe that battery storage will play an increasingly important role in bringing energy systems to net zero emissions.
Equinor
By pooling our different areas of energy expertise, our companies
will seek to create a battery business that is profitable, scalable and sustainable,says Al Cook, Executive Vice President of Global Strategy & Business Development in Equinor.
Electrification
is a fundamental element in Europe’s transition towards net zero emissions in 2050,
batteries are expected to play a vital role in this, especially in the transportation sector, where demand is growing rapidly.
We expect battery production to grow rapidly as a solution to the world’s number one challenge, climate change.
Hydro
We have already seen in recent years that Hydro’s unique combination of capabilities from renewable energy and processing industries provide a strong foundation for partnerships for exploring growth opportunities in the battery industry,says Arvid Moss, Executive Vice President of Energy and Corporate Development in Hydro.
https://news.panasonic.com/global/press/data/2020/11/en201118-4/en201118-4-1.pdf
Panasonic, Equinor and Hydro to explore potential for European battery business