Morrow Batteries

The large industrial building visible from the motorway is Morrow Batteries, where Europe's first LFP gigafactory was built at Eyde Material Park. LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries are safer, longer-lasting, and cobalt-free compared to the lithium-ion cells used in most electric cars. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre inaugurated the factory in August 2024, and at peak capacity it could produce 3 million battery cells per year. The ambitions were enormous. Morrow planned to expand to 43 GWh across three additional modules, targeting energy storage systems and heavy machinery rather than electric cars. Southern Norway's abundant hydropower made the location attractive for low-carbon production. It was not to be. Chinese manufacturers drove global LFP battery prices down by nearly half between 2022 and 2025, and Morrow could not compete. The company filed for bankruptcy in May 2026, the third major Nordic battery startup to fail after Sweden's Northvolt and Norway's own Freyr Battery. The total financial exposure exceeded 5 billion NOK, including public grants and Innovation Norway loans. The factory stands as both a symbol of Europe's green industrial ambition and a reminder of how hard it is to compete with established Asian manufacturers.