Lyten CEO Dan Cook presented the company’s vision for the future battery site near Heide, Germany, in a session of Schleswig-Holstein’s Economic Committee in Kiel. He described the project as an important milestone for Lyten, noting the opportunity to bring advanced Silicon Valley–developed battery technology to a region recognized for its leadership in renewable energy.
When queried about employment prospects, Cook explained that gigafactories of this scale—measuring in the tens of gigawatts—typically require thousands of workers. While he did not give a precise headcount during the roughly 15-minute public session, a subsequent press release from the South Schleswig Voters’ Association (SSW) projected the creation of approximately 1,000 jobs. For context, previous plans under Northvolt had aimed for about 3,000 positions.
In comments to the Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Cook emphasized that the Heide location already benefits from developed infrastructure, a skilled local team and strong support from regional authorities. He said the combination of Schleswig-Holstein’s pioneering role in energy transformation and Lyten’s technological expertise reflects a shared “can-do” mentality that will foster the right conditions for success.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister-President Daniel Günther described the exchange as constructive, highlighting the state’s readiness to accompany the project closely and maximize its regional industrial potential. FDP representative Bernd Buchholz called the presentation interesting but stressed the need for a solid operational concept. SPD economic spokesman Kianusch Stender noted ongoing questions about housing, childcare, schools and transportation, though he viewed Cook’s visit as a positive first step and urged that the factory’s development become a top-level priority.
SSW’s Sybilla Nitsch lauded Lyten’s more modest, realistic approach compared to Northvolt’s earlier ambitions but maintained a critical stance, warning that taxpayers should not bear undue risk without transparent parliamentary oversight.
In August, Lyten announced plans to acquire all remaining assets of the insolvent Northvolt, including the under-construction Heide facility. The state Inspectorate of Strategic Products has approved the acquisition, which is slated to close by the end of October.
Source: NDR
