Hydro is building a factory for recycling electric car batteries in Fredrikstad

Together with Northvolt, Hydro will build a facility for recycling electric car batteries in Norway.

“This is very important,“ said Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H).

The two companies will establish Hydro Volt AS and build the first facility for recycling such batteries in Norway.

The recycling plant will be in Fredrikstad, and production is expected to start in 2021.

“We are excited about the opportunities this represents. Hydro Volt AS can handle aluminum from used batteries as part of our overall metal value chain, contribute to the circular economy, and at the same time reduce the carbon footprint from the metal we offer,“ said Arvid Moss, Executive Vice President for the Energy business area and responsible for corporate development at Hydro.

Norwegian-Swedish cooperation
The joint venture is owned by 50 percent each of the global aluminum company Hydro and Northvolt, a European battery manufacturer based in Sweden.

“Northvolt has set a target for 50 percent of our raw material to come from recycled batteries by 2030. The collaboration with Hydro is an important part of the puzzle,” said Emma Nehrenheim, who is responsible for the environment at Revolt, Northvolt’s business unit for recycling.

100 million kroner
A formal investment decision for the pilot plant is expected to be made shortly, and the investment is estimated at about 100 million kroner, said a press release.

The pilot plant will to a large extent be automated and have the capacity to process more than 8,000 tonnes of batteries every year, with the possibility of expanding capacity gradually.

Solberg: We need to recycle more
Prime Minister Erna Solberg (H) on Monday met Hydro’s Executive Vice President to hear more about the recycling plans.

“Today we recycle too little of the batteries. There is simply too much garbage that is not used,” said Solberg to NTB.

She is glad that something has started to sort and recycle more than just the most valuable substances, such as cobalt.

“This is very important, emphasized Solberg.

Not just about sewing dresses
She believes there is room and the  need to recycle even more.

“And it’s not just about sewing our dresses. Perhaps the most important recycling is our material industry, which has to recycle even more. They have been good, but they have to be even better,“ said Solberg.

She praised Hydro for seeing the link between producing aluminum and contributing to recycling.

“We must get the entire flow of goods in Norway and not import everything from other countries. Recycling should take place where consumption has occurred,” said the Prime Minister.

© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today