Finland seeks European battery lead through high-value products

Finland is aiming to become a European leader in battery technology and materials, focusing on high-value products rather than mass production of battery cells, Yle reports. The updated national battery strategy was drawn up by the industry itself, led by the Finnish Battery Industries association, rather than by the government.

The strategy reflects a changed global landscape, including China’s growing lead, competition for critical raw materials and the war in Ukraine, said association chief executive Pia Vilenius. It places greater emphasis on security of supply and the industry’s ability to withstand crises, including access to raw materials, reliable energy and battery systems, and batteries for the defence sector.

Finland’s strengths, according to the industry, include expertise in minerals, mineral processing and the circular economy. The strategy says the country should not pursue high-volume mass production of battery cells, but should strengthen its existing cathode-materials value chain and increase the value created in Finland.

The strategy was presented at Kokkola Material Week, a mining and mineral chemistry event in Kokkola. The city is home to several key companies in the sector. Vilenius said research and development alone were not enough; companies also needed routes to turn that work into export products and growth.

Umicore began operating its second pCAM line in Kokkola last year and is planning a new plant. A Chinese-Finnish cathode-materials plant is being built in Kotka. Anode materials are identified as a potential growth area, although large-scale production of them is not yet established in Finland.

The strategy also includes applications, systems and digital services, with the aim of combining batteries, electrification, software and data. Priority areas include mobile work machines, microbatteries, and smart energy storage and systems.

The industry wants investments to progress faster, legislation to support growth and financing to be available. Vilenius called for more predictable laws, saying frequent changes make it difficult for companies to plan. The updated strategy sets out a sequence and timetable for its measures, after implementation of the first strategy was not followed through fully, she said.