Impact of New Battery Plants' Raw Material Transport on Local Infrastructure and Emissions in Southern Finland

This study evaluates the impact of increased demand for raw materials logistics and commuter traffic on local infrastructure and emissions. Specifically, it analyses the effects of new battery factories on traffic volumes and CO₂ emissions in southern Finland, comparing diesel and electric truck impacts. The study proposes solutions to enhance sustainability in the battery industry’s logistics. A case study approach assesses traffic flows and CO₂ emissions associated with three battery plants. The supply chain considers both local and international material sources, with CO₂ projections based on various scenarios, including the partial electrification of transport. Conventional fuel transport bringing raw material for these plants could produce up to 28,500 tons of CO₂ annually based on the estimated requirement of raw materials: 599,300 tons in Keltakallio plants and 430,000 tons in the Hillo plant. A scenario with 50% local and 50% imported raw materials results in 14,200 tons of emissions in Finland. This amount could be reduced by 7,000 tons by electrifying 50% of the truck fleet. Electrifying 50% of the truck fleet would require approximately 16 GWh of charging energy, which should be made available along major highways, at ports, or at the new battery plants. The implications of the study help managers and policymakers in multiple ways Insights from this study guide on infrastructure adaptation to handle increased heavy traffic volumes, encouraging the battery industry’s sustainable growth. In practice, the electrification recommendations can lead to significant emission reductions.