United States-based startup Lyten has acquired Northvolt Dwa ESS, the largest energy storage systems factory in Europe, located in Gdansk, Poland.

The factory had been closed following Northvolt’s bankruptcy in March 2025.

The 25,000-square-meter facility, which opened in 2023, can produce up to 6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage systems annually.

Lyten plans to restart operations immediately to fulfill existing and future customer orders.

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🔗 Source: Reuters

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Europe’s battery independence suffers setback amid Asian dominance

Northvolt’s bankruptcy represents a significant blow to Europe’s ambitions in the battery sector, creating a vacuum that American company Lyten is now filling.

The Swedish battery maker was Europe’s most promising contender to challenge Asian dominance, having raised €1.45 billion ($1.6 billion) from major investors including Volkswagen, BMW, and Siemens 1.

This acquisition comes against the backdrop of overwhelming Asian control of the global EV battery market, where Chinese manufacturers CATL and BYD hold 38.1% and 17.3% market share respectively in 2025 2.

Europe’s struggle to establish battery manufacturing leadership contrasts sharply with China’s strategic investments in the sector, which began years earlier and has created substantial competitive advantages in scale, supply chain integration, and cost efficiency.

Lyten’s takeover of the Gdansk facility introduces a new dynamic in Europe’s battery landscape, with an American company potentially becoming the continent’s leading energy storage manufacturer rather than a homegrown European champion.

2️⃣ Energy storage systems emerge as critical infrastructure beyond EVs

While electric vehicle batteries dominate headlines, the Northvolt Dwa ESS facility represents the growing strategic importance of grid-scale energy storage systems for renewable energy integration.

The global energy storage systems market is currently valued at $73.5 billion and projected to grow at over 15% annually through 2026, highlighting the expanding opportunity beyond vehicle batteries 3.

This rapid growth is driven by necessity, as experts project that global energy storage capacity must expand dramatically to 1,500 GW by 2030, with 90% of this capacity coming from battery technologies 4.

Lyten’s decision to maintain the facility’s focus on energy storage systems rather than redirecting to EV batteries suggests recognition of this growing market segment where competition may be less intense than in the crowded EV battery space.

The Polish facility’s 6 GWh manufacturing capacity with expansion potential to 10 GWh positions Lyten to capture significant market share in Europe’s energy storage sector, particularly as the continent accelerates renewable energy deployment.

3️⃣ Battery manufacturing continues geographic consolidation despite market growth

Northvolt’s failure despite substantial backing reveals the extreme challenges in establishing new battery manufacturing centers outside established hubs, even as the overall market expands dramatically.

The global lithium-ion battery market is projected to grow from $115.89 billion in 2025 to $499.31 billion by 2034, representing enormous opportunity but also intensifying competition 5.

Despite this growth, geographic consolidation continues with the Asia-Pacific region, particularly China, maintaining manufacturing dominance through advantages in scale, expertise, and established supply chains.

Lyten’s acquisition represents a pattern where struggling European battery initiatives become acquisition targets rather than independent competitors, following years of challenges in matching Asian manufacturers’ cost efficiency and production scale.

This transaction reinforces how difficult it remains to challenge established battery manufacturing leaders even with strong financial backing, as Northvolt had partnerships with automotive giants and over 5,500 employees before its collapse 6.

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