Nordic Nano Group to launch pilot production of innovative battery technology in Imatra

Next year, Nordic Nano Group, a domestic company specializing in innovative battery technology, will begin pilot production in Imatra. The company’s key products include solar panel coatings and non-toxic batteries made from the same materials. The solar panels utilize a technology based on nanoprinting developed at the University of Eastern Finland, with a crucial component sourced from German research – a proprietary nanomaterial that remains a trade secret.

Esa Parjanen, CEO of Nordic Nano Group, emphasizes that the nanomass printed solar panels and battery cells are twice as efficient as standard solar panels. The startup aims to commence industrial-scale production in Imatra by 2026.

Parjanen compares their innovation to a papermaking machine, noting that, similar to Ahlström’s historic acquisition of a German paper machine, they have imported their innovation and are now integrating it with Finnish expertise in quantum coatings. This nanomass efficiently captures solar energy, even from diffuse light, and is free from heavy metals traditionally used in solar panel binding agents, such as cadmium, lead, cobalt, or arsenic.

The nanoprinting material is also employed in the company’s battery cells, which promise to replace lithium commonly found in batteries for cars and smartphones. These nano battery cells can endure tens of thousands of charge cycles and store more energy while being fire-safe.

The technology allows for ultra-thin membranes that can be printed on various surfaces, including roofs and walls, potentially enabling homes to store energy generated by their roofs and sell it back to power companies.

Currently, Nordic Nano is seeking funding for a €20 million testing line at its Imatra facility. While some financing has been secured, additional funds are needed. Public support for such projects in Finland is often less robust compared to competing countries, leading to challenges in capital acquisition.