Elinor signs agreement to create a circular supercluster at Eiktyr Industrial Park
Elinor has entered into an extensive collaboration agreement with the industrial companies Norsk Industuriutvikling, VOWv Green Metals, Norsk E-fuel, Vala Bio and Green Move. By co-locating the industrial development of the various partners, it will be possible to cut up to 500,000 tonnes in annual CO2 emissions and create up to 1,000 new jobs in Orkland.
From left: Mayor of Orkland Hanne Nyhus, CEO of Elinor Batteries Arne Fredrik Lånke, CEO of Vala Bio Marianne Langvik, chairman of Elinor Batteries Kristin Skofteland, CCO of Norsk E-fuel Lars Bjørn Larsen, VP Commercial and Strategy at VOW Green Metals Håkon Nøstvik, Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth, CEO of Norsk Industiutvikling Dorte Bae Solvang, CEO of VOW Green Metals Cecilie Jonassen, chairman of Norsk Industriutvikling Terje Andersen and Ingebrigt Bjørseth from Green Move.
On September 18, the five different companies signed an agreement with Elinor at the Thams conference in Orkland. The companies are planning on working together to utilize resources and energy by recovering and reusing residual products and heat. As an overarching goal for the collaboration, the circular supercluster sets out to ensure that all energy will be used twice. The companies' ambition is that the cluster will collectively create up to 1,000 direct jobs and enable emission reductions equivalent to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.
“This agreement represents a unique and modern industrial initiative, the like of which is unmatched in the Norwegian and international context. If we are to succeed in a green restructuring of industry in Norway, we are dependent on working together across industries. What we want to do in Eiktyr industrial park provides significant gains in the form of lower emissions and energy consumption, and increased utilization of resources, by-products, waste heat and energy” says Dorte Solvang, CEO of Norsk Industriutvikling.
New European standard
The agreement was signed on 18 September during the Thams Conference in Orkanger. The project was also presented to the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth.
In 2023, the environmental organisation Zero conducted a study that showed that co-location in industry offers significant synergies - especially in the form of energy efficiency. In the Eiktyr Industrial Park, the plan is to build a common energy plant that will coordinate the flow of different energy carriers between the industries that want to locate in the park.
“In the preliminary calculations we have showed that the the battery factory Elinor is establishing in Eiktyr, will use half the amount of energy compared to today's giga factories in Europe” says Solvang.
There are several benefits to be gained from putting the production of batteries, sustainable synthetic fuel, hydrogen, biocarbon, biogas and refined soil in the same place. As an example, CO2 from biogas and biocarbon production will be reused in the production of synthetic fuel. By-products from both biocarbon and biogas can be used in soil improvement. In addition, the excess heat from the production of both synthetic fuel and biocarbon will be reused in the production of both batteries and biogas.
Dorte Solvang is presenting the environmental benefits for the the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Industry.
Sustainable development in Orkland
In addition, there are also positive climate effects as the products from the industrial cluster replace fossil products in various industries.
“We have a national responsibility to drive sustainable development of industry, and this collaboration shows how green companies can work together to achieve the climate goals Norway has set. By reducing the amount of waste from the local business community, increasing energy efficiency and contributing to green innovation, Orkland can set a new standard in sustainable industrial development and contribute positively to competitiveness. This is the start of a circular industry cluster, and we want more companies to be able to contribute to this symbiosis,”says CEO of Elinor Batteries, Arne Fredrik Lånke.
The companies must work together to utilize resources and energy, and to recover and reuse residual products and heat. The symbiosis contributes to maximizing the benefit for future industry in Orkland, and ensures that valuable resources are not wasted. A central mission for Eiktyr Industrial Park is to create new, resilient links of circularity between both existing and coming industries in Orkland.
Thams Conference 2024.
