US battery manufacturer Lyten plans to create approximately 1,000 jobs at the former Northvolt site near Heide in Schleswig-Holstein, with an initial focus on artificial intelligence and data center operations alongside battery production.
According to Lyten CEO Dan Cook, the project’s first phase will not solely depend on electric vehicle batteries but will include cells for defense, stationary energy storage, mobility solutions, and automotive use.
Lyten has already agreed to take over the Northvolt facility in Heide and intends to leverage the site for more than traditional battery manufacturing. “We’re looking at establishing AI capabilities and data centers as core elements of this location,” Cook said following meetings with Schleswig-Holstein’s state government in Kiel. The company aims to begin construction in 2027 after completing the acquisition and detailed planning, with production targeted to start by 2028.
The company expects to fund the Heide development primarily with private capital but will consider public subsidies if offered in the future. Lyten is in the process of finalizing the transaction and plans further discussions with federal authorities in Berlin.
Schleswig-Holstein’s Minister-President Daniel Günther described the talks as positive and emphasized the state government’s commitment to supporting Lyten, particularly on energy supply issues. He noted that the region’s ample availability of green electricity represents a key advantage for Lyten’s combined battery and data center activities.
In late February, Lyten completed the acquisition of Northvolt’s insolvent Swedish division. Negotiations with the German subsidiary and discussions involving the federal government and the state development bank KfW are ongoing.
Source: Spiegel Online
