SB-VARKAUS: SuperBattery production for high-frequency grid balancing

Project name: SB-VARKAUS: SuperBattery production for high-frequency grid balancing

Project duration:
1.4.2026 - 31.12.2034

Project overview

SB-VARKAUS aims to upscale Skeleton Technologies’ battery production capacity, from the current pilot line to a full industrial production capacity of 10 million cells annually by Q3 2029. Production will focus on a novel patented technology, the SuperBattery, which combines innovative Supercapacitor and Battery technology, providing high power with fast charging as well as high safety and cycle life. In full operation, this will translate to 580 MWh in cell production per year, just at this location. The project will achieve a 100% reduction in GHG emissions compared to the reference scenario, demonstrating a substantial reduction of emissions in sectors such as power frequency regulation through energy storage systems.

To realize these goals, SB-VARKAUS will expand battery production and enhance infrastructure to ensure efficient and high-volume manufacturing. It will achieve this through extensive automation and digitalization of the end-to-end manufacturing processes. Through a significant investment in robotics, AI-driven quality control, and supply chain optimization, it will transform the pilot facility into one of Europe’s leading battery production hubs. The SuperBattery can fill the European market gap for battery energy storage solutions in the time frame of 60 seconds to 45 minutes fast charge/discharge, in which neither Supercapacitors nor conventional Lithium-Ion batteries can operate effectively. This innovation represents a potential absolute GHG avoidance of ca. 4.3 million tCO2e in comparison to fossil-based technologies for frequency response. 

SB-VARKAUS contributes to the EU’s strategy of a resilient and sustainable European energy landscape compliant with the EU Green Deal and the Net-Zero Industry Act. This battery manufacturing facility dedicated to grid frequency response applications plays a critical role in the European Green Deal by enabling increased flexibility and stability in the power system, essential for integrating variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar. It also advances the Net-Zero Industry Act’s objective to scale up critical clean energy technologies domestically, ensuring secure and sustainable supply chains for energy storage solutions vital to power system resilience. By enabling grid operators to stabilize frequency rapidly and efficiently, the plant contributes to the EU’s ambitions for decarbonized power infrastructure and enhanced energy security.

SB-VARKAUS is located at the Varkaus facility in North Savo, Finland. The upscaling of the pilot facility will create over 300 new jobs, requiring scientific, technical and engineering skills. In addition, with a total market size of around EUR 95 billion for high power energy storage applications similar to the SuperBattery, provides a replicable model for the industrial transformation and economic resilience of Europe’s battery manufacturing sector.  

Participants:

• 
  OU SKELETON TECHNOLOGIES GROUP (Estonia)

• SKELETON TECHNOLOGIES OY (Finland)

Contact details: 
if@skeletontech.com

Link to the website:  www.skeletontech.com

Disclaimer: Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.