In an industrial building at Holtskogen in Indre Østfold, there is a device that may resemble something that Kjell Aukrust’s inventor Reodor Felgen could have put together, after careful calculations. In reality, it is a reactor, based on years of research and development. – I think there are a lot more calculations and research behind this than what Reodor Felgen had done, says Erik Sauar, general manager of the company Cenate. Here, pipe paths are connected and end at the top of a copper-coloured spiral, which in turn stands on top of a square steel tank. The plant makes a powder based on silicon, which can make electric car batteries far more efficient than today. The end station for all the pipe paths is a metal container, where the dark powder can be taken out as a finished product. The process is so secret that news is not allowed to take a photo of the top of the spiral Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news The substance that comes out of the machine will replace graphite in electric car batteries. – All electric cars contain around 60 kilograms of graphite. Each kilogram of our material can replace 5-7 kilograms of this graphite. It makes the battery smaller, lighter and cheaper, it gives a smaller climate footprint and increases the range of the electric car it sits in, says Sauar. Erik Sauar heads the company that wants to build a large factory for Norwegian-developed battery powder in the USA. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news He has a doctorate in physical chemistry, and together with several Norwegian colleagues has developed a completely new silicon powder and a method for producing it. Silicon is the second most abundant element in the world, after oxygen. About Cenate AS Cenate is a Norwegian-owned company that develops silicon-based material to be used in anodes in car batteries and other types of batteries Head office in Askim and production facility at Holtskogen in Indre Østfold municipality. The company collaborates with some of the world’s largest battery manufacturers Has established a test facility for the production of silicon-based powder at Holtskogen in Indre Østfold Builds on Norwegian experience with silicon Largest shareholders: Josef Filtvedt, Werner Filtvedt, Sauar Invest, Bonheur, Nysnø Klimainvesteringer, Must Invest, Vianode. Sources: Cenate/Bizweb A race Battery manufacturers around the world are researching replacing graphite with silicon to varying degrees. In this race, the Norwegian company has attracted the interest of the American government, which welcomes green industry to the United States. That is why President Joe Biden’s special adviser for climate and energy, Sarah Ladislaw, visited the company in Indre Østfold last week. Ready for American courtship. The US special adviser met this week with the management of Cenate in Indre Østfold, here with Erik Sauar and Werner Filtvedt. Photo: Lars Håkon Pedersen / news – This is fantastic. Battery technology is one of the things we are very interested in now, and it is exactly this type of company that we want to establish with us, she says. It is precisely in the USA that the company wants to build a first large-scale factory, specifically in Washington or Montana, where they have already secured two industrial sites. The explanation is that the raw material, which is silane gas, is made in the USA. Norway first The goal is a factory that can supply enough battery material for 2 million cars annually in the USA, and they hope to be able to start construction next year. But before that, they will increase production in Norway, where the pilot factory at Holtskogen will be able to produce up to one hundred tonnes a year. – What we make here is delivered to large battery manufacturers who mainly test the material for use in electric car batteries. In the long term, the plan is to set up a large silicon powder factory here at home or in another European country. To make that happen, silage gas must be produced in Europe, which is very expensive. – Great potential Frederic Hauge in Bellona has long worked with the development of battery technology, and praises what Cenate is doing. – Production of battery materials will become a very large industry where Norway has good prerequisites with its skilled expertise in metallurgical and materials technology, says Hauge. He believes that there are also challenges with silicon, because the material shrinks and expands during charging and use, which can make the batteries unstable. But Hauge says Cenate has developed methods to reduce the problem. Frederic Hauge himself has ownership interests in Bellona’s own battery company BEBA, but has no direct connection to the östfold company. The silicon powder is now made on a smaller scale in Indre Østfold. The aim is to deliver to the major battery manufacturers of electric car batteries. Photo: Cenate Can get American money The American government has support schemes that can give the Norwegian manufacturer both a tax reduction and large subsidies to set up a large factory from next year. – This reduces the risk of construction, but the USA’s biggest advantage in the short term is the proximity to the raw material, says Sauar. American Sarah Ladislaw believes it is about a collaboration that benefits everyone. Electric car batteries can become more environmentally friendly to produce by replacing graphite with silicon. In addition, they will be lighter, more energy efficient and provide a longer range. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news – In a time of climate challenges, large investments must be made, not only in the USA, but in many countries. This is a good example of collaboration on innovation between Norway and the USA, she says. Here at home, our own Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is not negative about the Americans attracting new, green industry from Norwegian entrepreneurs. – It is good that the Americans are getting on board with renewable energy, and they are doing it the American way, with tax reductions. That’s not how we do it, he points out.
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Norwegian battery technology is embraced by the USA – news Østfold – Local news, TV and radio
