Swedish battery maker Northvolt has signed a joint development agreement with Stora Enso to develop wood-based batteries. According to a company statement, the batteries will feature anodes made from renewable raw materials sourced from Nordic forests. Partnership plans to use lignin hard carbon from forests to create sustainable batteries. Lignin is a polymer derived from the cell walls of dryland plants. It acts as a natural strong adhesive.

As part of the collaboration, Stora Enso will supply its lignin-based anode material Lignode, while Northvolt will be responsible for cell design, technology and production processes.

Johanna Hagelberg, Executive Vice President of Stora Enso Biomaterials, said: "The joint battery development with Northvolt marks a step forward in our journey to serve the fast-growing battery market with renewable anode materials made from trees. Our lignin-based hard carbon, Lignode by Stora Enso, will ensure a strategic supply of anode raw materials in Europe for sustainable battery demand from mobile to stationary energy storage applications.

Stora Enso's Sunila production site in Finland has been producing lignin since 2015. The company's current lignin production capacity is 50,000 tonnes per annum.

Emma Nehrenheim, Chief Environmental Officer at Northvolt, said: "Through this collaboration, we are exploring a new source of sustainable raw materials and expanding the European battery value chain while developing a cheaper battery chemistry. This is an exciting demonstration of how our pursuit of a sustainable battery industry can be complemented by positive impacts on society and costs.

Founded in 2016, Northvolt is focused on delivering sustainable batteries and systems. Earlier in 2022, the company announced plans to build a 60GWh battery factory in Germany. The plant in Heide, Schleswig-Holstein, will produce lithium-ion batteries for the European market.Editor/XingWentao