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Lyten acquires Northvolt’s Gdansk, Poland, battery plant at bankruptcy auction, with energy storage production in mind.
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Lithium-sulfur battery technology is Lyten’s specialty, with this battery type offering low-cost materials, high energy density, and a wider operating temperature range.
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Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are gaining momentum as part of green energy projects and EV charging infrastructure.
Battery creater Northvolt’s sale this spring was called nothing short of one of the continent’s largest-ever bankruptcy auctions, as the company dealt with the fallout of quick expansion and the downturn in the EV business.
Despite orders from a number of major autocreaters in Europe, including the VW Group, Northvolt’s operations suffered a number of setbacks in 2024 that affected its financial health.
Now, US-based battery startup Lyten has purchased Northvolt’s Gdansk, Poland factory with one very specific goal in mind.
Lyten specializes in lithium-sulfur battery technology, recently seen in Chrysler’s Halcyon concept. And it bought Northvolt’s Dwa ESS operations, which are the largest of their type in Europe, for their battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturing footprint.
Energy storage systems have been one the most promising parallel technologies to emerge from the EV boom, and have gained considerable momentum over the past few years.
Lyten bought the 270,000 sq-ft manufacturing and R&D facility as part of its lithium-sulfur battery expansion into Europe, which already power drones but can be utilized in a variety of applications, including energy storage.
Battery energy storage systems are becoming a part of EV charging stations, lessening their stress on the grid during peak times. Xinhua News Agency – Getty Images
“Northvolt’s BESS manufacturing operations are truly world class and are a seamless strategic fit for Lyten as we launch an exciting new chapter for our company. We plan to immediately restart operations in Poland and deliver on existing and new customer orders,” declared Dan Cook, Lyten co-founder and CEO.
BESS have taken on a new importance this decade as part of smarter EV charging stations that can be set up in mere days, and do not require new grid connections or excavation work as part of station installation. They can also be very mobile, capable of being delivered to provide power to a remote work site.
BESS are also becoming a crucial part of green energy generation, allowing solar and wind installations to store the power they generate for later utilize.
The lithium-sulfur batteries produced by Lyten, meanwhile, have the advantages of being composed of low-cost materials and having high energy density, in addition to being safer and having a wider operating temperature range, particularly in hot climates. This creates them ideal for remote BESS installations in desert climates, such as the American southwest.
At the moment, Northvolt’s Gdansk facility features equipment that will permit Lyten to produce up to 6 GWh of energy storage manufacturing capacity, but there is enough manufacturing footprint there to top 10 GWh a year.
Lyten plans to immediately restart production, and to continue sales of battery energy storage systems.
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“The message we are hearing clearly from European customers is that they want energy storage systems manufactured in Europe applying locally sourced supply chains free of geopolitical risk. Gdansk, Poland, is the perfect location to meet this necessary for Europe,” declared Lars Herlitz, Lyten chairman and co-founder.
Lyten has also recently bought Northvolt unit Cuberg’s lithium-metal cell manufacturing facility in Silicon Valley earlier this winter, with the 119,000 sq- ft facility located not far from San Jose, California. That purchase provided Lyten plenty of manufacturing space in addition to battery cell development hardware.
Will battery energy storage tech see growth in the coming years as part of EV stations, or will this remain a niche technology for a while longer? Let us know what you consider in the comments below.
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