Northvolt gigafactory impact analysis

Located just south of the Arctic circle in Skellefteå in Northern Sweden, Northvolt Ett is intended to set new standards with a gigafactory producing lithium-ion batteries for some 300.000 electric vehicles by 2024, powering e.g. Volvos and BMWs. For the municipality, this brings about significant change at local level.

The municipality therefore needed a thorough understanding of the wider impacts of Northvolt's large investment and reached out to Ramboll’s Management Consultants for help.

Ramboll conducted a scenario analysis of the social and economic impacts of the project in close collaboration with the municipality.

Analysing different scenarios

Ramboll's team of experts estimated how local business, the labour market, population growth and demographics, housing needs, and municipal services could be affected until 2040.

Applying both qualitative interviews, workshops, and a tailor-made quantitative model, Ramboll was able to draw conclusions that has helped the municipality mobilise, set a new population goal for 2030, and jointly work towards sustainable growth in Skellefteå.

The scenario analysis was conducted using large amounts of qualitative data collected from interviews and workshops with stakeholders, and a solid and tailor-made quantitative model that describes the municipality's possible development in different plausible scenarios. Ramboll's conclusions have

contributed to intensifying the preparatory work within the municipality and to a new population target set by municipality’s politicians.

Ramboll’s engagement in Skellefteå began in 2020 and was concluded in 2022. When in full operations, the Northvolt factory is expected to have some 3000 employees producing 60 GWh of batteries and 150 GWh by 2030.