In line with the creation of the industrial center dedicated to electric vehicles Renault ElectriCity, Groupe Renault is a spearhead in the development of more performing, low-carbon and reusable batteries. This agreement, associated with the partnership with Vulcan to ensure the supply of low-carbon lithium and the alliance with Veolia & Solvay to recycle the materials of closed-cycle batteries, marks a new step towards the reduction of the environmental footprint of electric vehicles and pursues the Group’s zero emissions target in Europe by 2040.
“The partnership with Terrafame is a concrete step forward to achieve the goal of reducing the carbon footprint due to the Group’s purchases by 30% by 2030. – has explained Gianluca De Ficchy, Alliance Purchasing Director and General Manager of the Alliance Purchasing Organization (APO) –The decarbonisation and traceability of battery chemicals are major challenges for electric mobility and the energy transition; Terrafame offers a distinct advantage in terms of sustainable development and conservation of resources, thanks to its absolutely unique production method. Its industrial ecosystem generates a nickel sulphate carbon footprint that is more than 60% lower than the industry average. ” Joni Lukkaroinen, CEO of Terrafame, he added: “With this partnership, we are very proud to contribute to the development of an environmentally friendly battery value chain in Europe. The Renault Group’s ambitious goal leads us to build a sustainable and responsible long-term supply chain, with a sufficient level of nickel sulphate orders of up to 300,000 vehicles per year. We are happy with this promising collaboration which will allow us to contribute to the decarbonisation of mobility and transport ”.
The direct collaboration between the car manufacturer and the engineering company upstream of production introduces a profound change in the battery value chain. The production process of Terrafame, based on the bioleaching technique (process of extraction of metals through the action of bacteria), uses about 90% less energy than the industry average for the production of nickel sulphate. Additionally, Terrafame’s integrated manufacturing system begins and ends at a single industrial site, from mining to manufacturing battery chemicals. Concentration in a single site, combined with energy efficiency, makes it possible to reduce the environmental footprint and ensure total transparency of the entire chain. Involvement across the chain not only facilitates risk management, but also contributes to greater transparency in pricing mechanisms.