Fortum and Vianode to recycle graphite

Fortum Battery Recycling and Vianode have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the development and use of recycled graphite materials for electric vehicle (EV) battery production.

Under the agreement, the two companies will work together to secure supplies of recycled graphite concentrate from Fortum’s hydrometallurgical facility in Harjavalta, Finland. The partnership aims to develop and optimize recycled graphite for use in anode materials at Vianode’s commercial-scale production facilities, and to assess the performance of these materials in advanced battery components.

Graphite is the largest component by weight in lithium-ion batteries, with each EV typically containing about 70 kilograms. Most of this graphite is synthetic and predominantly sourced from China. As Europe prepares for an increase in battery recycling driven by the end-of-life of early EVs and new regulatory requirements, recycled graphite is expected to play a growing role in battery material supply chains.

Fortum’s Harjavalta plant, recognized by the European Commission in 2025 as a Strategic Project under the Critical Raw Materials Act, is Europe’s largest closed-loop hydrometallurgical battery recycling facility. The company also operates mechanical processing hubs in Germany and Finland.

Vianode, which produces synthetic anode graphite, is targeting a CO₂ footprint below 1 kg CO₂e per kg of graphite by 2030. The company operates its full-scale plant, Via ONE, in Herøya, Norway, and plans to expand its production footprint in Europe and North America.

The collaboration reflects broader industry efforts to reduce reliance on virgin raw materials and support regional supply chains for battery manufacturing.