Vianode, an advanced battery materials company, has announced that it has secured a NOK 400 million loan from Innovation Norway. The funding will be invested in Norway to enhance Vianode’s research and development capabilities and to support the establishment of regional high-performance, low-emission electric vehicle (EV) and battery value chains.
The loan will partially finance Vianode’s first full-scale plant, Via ONE, located at Herøya Industrial Park, as well as the Technology Center in Kristiansand and the company’s headquarters in Oslo. This financial support is complemented by additional investments from Vianode’s owner, Altor.
Innovation Norway, the primary instrument of the Norwegian Government for promoting innovation and development, provided the loan under the Green Industrial Financing program. The loan is offered on market terms and does not qualify as state aid under EFTA Surveillance Authority regulations. This funding is a crucial component of Vianode’s strategy to secure long-term financing for industrial-scale production.
Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode, stated, “Vianode’s 200 employees and three sites in Norway are the foundation for innovation, competence development, and product qualification, which enable our international growth. The loan from Innovation Norway strengthens our execution platform as we progress toward long-term funding for our multi-billion-dollar phased investment program, which will enable Vianode to deliver materials for 3 million electric vehicles per year by 2030.”
Innovation Norway has previously supported Vianode as part of Norway’s focus on developing the battery value chain. Leon Bakkebø, Director of Banking and Finance at Innovation Norway, commented, “Vianode is an example of a company built on the unique expertise developed over time in Norway. By leveraging proprietary technology, they can deliver products the world demands with lower emissions than before. The loan helps strengthen the company’s R&D environment in Norway and enables scaling for international growth.”
Vianode’s anode graphite production reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional methods. The launch of the Via ONE plant at Herøya sets a new sustainability standard for high-performance anode graphite. The company aims to further reduce its product carbon footprint by nearly half by 2030.
Additionally, Vianode has entered into a multi-billion-dollar long-term supply agreement with General Motors (NYSE: GM) to provide EV battery-grade anode graphite through 2033. Anode graphite is a significant component in lithium-ion batteries, and Vianode produces synthetic graphite through high-temperature processes, distinguishing it from natural graphite mined from carbon-rich rock formations.
Vianode is owned by Altor and operates the world’s most sustainable full-scale anode graphite plant for batteries in Herøya, Norway. The company is committed to scaling its operations to support the growing demand for advanced battery materials in North America and Europe.
Source: Vianode
