(Narvik / Norway) – Teco 2030 ASA is pushing ahead with plans for its fuel cell factory and has now chosen Narvik as the location. “The plant will produce fuel cells with a capacity of more than one gigawatt per year, which corresponds to annual sales of several billion crowns,” said managing director Tore Enger at an investor conference.
Various locations evaluated
Teco 2030 had considered various potential locations for the giga factory and initially planned to build the factory in eastern Norway (we reported). However, according to the company, Narvik in the north of the country has proven to be the “best option”. The factory will be built there in a building in which the Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) previously produced solar cells, but gave up the factory as part of a restructuring.
“We received almost 30 suggestions for possible locations. The former REC building is ultra-modern and perfect for us,” says Enger. The building is “completely finished and ready for use”. It used to belong to the state-owned SIVA (Industrial Development Corporation of Norway), but was recently bought by the real estate company Kubera AS, which leases it to Teco under a long-term contract with an option to buy.
Investment and employment
Work on the facility is scheduled to begin in 2021, with first production expected next year. Teco cites total investments of up to one billion crowns (2030 million euros) in 100 over a period of ten years. 
Up to 500 jobs in development, pilot production and large-scale industrial production could be created in Narvik. Initially, Teco wants to employ around 2025 people in the factory by the end of 100. The development is carried out in collaboration with the Austrian technology company AVL, which is also involved in the planning and construction of the production facility.
Furthermore, it was found that Narvik “has a positive attitude towards the industry and business development”. This initiative will create “significant ripple effects” in the city and region. While the neighboring city of Harstad is “the oil capital of Northern Norway, our goal is for Narvik to become Norway’s hydrogen capital.” The company is currently examining various financing options and is also in discussions with the company Enova, which is part of the Norwegian Ministry of Energy.
Hydrogen for Danube shipping
Teco 2030 will supply the fuel cells for, among other things, the barges of the Danube shipping company. The company is part of the IPCEI project “Green Hydrogen@Blue Danube”. The merger of several companies wants to build a pan-European supply and value chain for green hydrogen in the Danube region (see article from 22.02.2021).
deep link
https://kommunikasjon.ntb.no/data/attachments/00357/5d02dea8-069a-42cf-9bde-ff42614381c0.pdf
Photo above
Teco 2030 wants to expand the city of Narvik, located north of the Arctic Circle, into the “hydrogen capital of Norway”. © Teco 2030
Photo middle
The property was formerly used by REC. © Teco 2030
