Volvo's new battery factory in the Swedish town of Mariestad uses an insane amount of electricity. According to one newspaper, as much as half a million people use.
Volvo's new factory for electric trucks in Mariestad needs enormous amounts of electricity. So much, in fact, that it corresponds to the consumption of around 500,000 people.
This has created problems for the factory, as plans for the necessary power supply lines have been rejected.
The factory is located in the town of Korstorp, where Volvo plans to produce batteries for its trucks. The agreement for the 167-hectare land purchase was signed with the Swedish municipality in July 2023. The goal is to create 3,000 new jobs at the factory.
However, the project has faced several challenges. The construction start, originally planned for 2024, has been postponed, and production is now expected to begin sometime in 2030 at the earliest.
One of the reasons for the delay is the low demand for electric trucks. In addition, Volvo now has a new problem to deal with.
When the factory is running at full capacity, electricity consumption is expected to reach 2255 GWH per year. This is equivalent to the amount of electricity used by half a million people in their homes.
This is what Mariestads-Tidningen writes.
The power was to be delivered from Ellevio's new power station in Korstorp via five connecting lines, each 1,200 meters long. However, the Danish Energy Market Authority has rejected Volvo's application to lay the necessary high-voltage lines.
– We were rejected just before Christmas, and we may appeal it. We are thinking about what to do now, says Jörgen Gustafsson, head of communications at Volvo.
Obtaining a permit for high-voltage lines, a so-called grid concession, is a lengthy process. Volvo had hoped to obtain a dispensation, but the authorities rejected this on the grounds that the connecting lines are not located within an area for industrial establishment.
– The fact that the land may be used for industrial activities in the future does not change this assessment.
Volvo is considering appealing the decision to the Land and Environmental Court. Regardless of the outcome, the company assures that it will not affect the rest of the process with the factory.
– However, a future decision from the court in either direction will not significantly affect Volvo's construction process.
It's just a formality about how to build electrical lines, says Jörgen Gustafsson according to the local newspaper.
