A Vianode-led initiative for minimising process industry emissions has received a USD 7 million (NOK 75 million) grant from the Norwegian Research Council. The grant will be used to develop technologies for data capture and advanced process control. This aims to enable more efficient and environmentally friendly production methods, supporting the zero-emission process industry in Norway. This includes both facility upgrades and greenfield establishments.
Vianode will oversee a series of comprehensive testing. The project will commence in Norway with initial preparations at Vianode’s industrial pilot facility in Kristiansand. Following this, the project will progress to an industrial-scale testing environment at the company’s customer qualification plant at Herøya. Later, it will move to Vianode’s planned large-scale manufacturing plant during the 2024 to 2026 project period.
A significant share of the grant will be allocated to preparing the ground for a more digitized and sustainable large-scale process industry. It aims to develop solutions for applying to Vianode’s large-scale plant, focusing specifically on synthetic anode graphite solutions.
“Innovation and digitalisation are crucial for delivering tailor-made high-performance anode graphite solutions to customers with a low environmental footprint. The grant will contribute to positioning Vianode at the forefront of advanced data-driven production. This can drive more sophisticated customization options for customers. Additionally, it will serve as a foundation for continuous improvement and more resource-efficient processes,” says Burkhard Straube, CEO of Vianode.
The process industry in Norway employs just over 25,000 people. It accounts for about 18% of the country’s total export of physical goods. The process industry in Norway has reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 41% since 1990, but it still constitutes 23% of Norway’s total emissions. Globally, the sector accounts for a significant portion of the world’s GHG emissions.
“The insights gained from Vianode may have major ripple effects across sectors, beyond making a material contribution to decarbonise the value chain for batteries and EVs. We depend on public schemes to support rapid and efficient market entry at scale, in exchange for substantial long-term value creation through industrialisation, economic activity, job creation and future tax revenues,” says Straube.
