Battery technology development environment as an enabler for just transition

In this project, a research and development environment for batteries suitable for storing electrical energy will be developed to achieve the transition from a system based on fossil energy sources (including peat) to a renewable and socio-economically sustainable energy system based on the strengths and needs of the region. Several renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are inherently variable in their production, causing challenges to the stability of the energy grid and availability of energy. Battery technology and related solutions play a central role in balancing these fluctuations and enabling electrification. Northern Finland has the necessary raw materials for the industry, as well as expertise in battery chemicals research, industrial production, and high-level additive manufacturing of electronics. The battery technology research and development environment built on this regional expertise has excellent conditions for generating knowledge and industrial activity that ultimately solves the challenges of a fair transition. However, there is currently a lack of a research environment in Finland that enables the development of battery technology in a dry environment, covering the entire chain from processing battery chemistry to manufacturing functional cells. Such a dry environment is necessary to increase the industrial applicability of technology development and results, as the performance of the materials used in batteries deteriorates when they come into contact with moisture. As a result of the project, a unique pilot factory for battery technology will be created, where next-generation energy storage technologies are developed, creating the conditions for a fair transition and sustainable development and growth of local business.