NIB-financed solar silicon factory opens in Norway

The Orkla group company, Elkem Solar, opened a factory based on new technology for the production of solar-grade silicon on 21 August in Kristiansand, Norway. The factory is being financed with a loan from NIB.

HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway cut the ribbon at the plant, which will deliver high-purity metallurgical silicon to the solar power industry. Also present was Norway’s Minister of environment and international development, Erik Solheim, who used the opportunity to declare solar energy to be Norway’s third energy revolution.

“Industry related to renewable energy represents Norway’s third energy revolution after hydro and oil. The need for renewable sources of energy like the sun and the wind will only increase in the future,” Solheim said in his opening speech.

Other guests at the opening ceremony included the minister of trade and industry and other prominent politicians, as well as representatives of trade and industry and members of the executive management teams and boards of Elkem and Orkla.

The NIB loan totalling EUR 145 million was signed in late 2008. According to Elkem Solar, the cost of the new high-grade silicon metal factory totalled more than NOK 4 billion (EUR 470 million). The NIB financing is one of the Bank’s biggest loans in Norway. The new factory, with 270 employees, will produce 6,000 tonnes of high-purity silicon a year.