Nordex, First Phosphate, ThyssenKrupp - Top news on the energy transition

First Phosphate - High-grade drilling results

The fact that the German government's ambitious plan could fail could also be due to the lack of raw materials for the energy turnaround, which have once again become scarce due to the sanctions against Russia. That is why Western governments are desperately seeking domestic deposits that contain the critical materials they need. One of these emerging companies is First Phosphate, which focuses on the extraction and purification of phosphate for the production of active cathode material for the lithium iron phosphate battery industry.

The Canadians own more than 1,500 sq km of land rights in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec, which is equipped with world-class infrastructure and is gradually being developed. The properties contain rare anorthosite igneous phosphate rock that yields high-purity phosphate material without high concentrations of harmful elements. From this, purified battery-quality phosphoric acid can be produced in several processing steps, which is increasingly used in the electric car industry. Lithium iron phosphate batteries have the advantage that neither nickel nor manganese are needed. They also have a much longer life and are easier to recycle due to their fire resistance.

Encouraging news was reported from the Bégin-Lamarche project. Initial drill results returned four high-grade phosphate layers with grades ranging from 7.8% to 10.6% phosphate. The thicknesses of these layers are 7.8% phosphate over 83.5m. The investigations also show further extensions of the mineralization. In addition, thick occurrences of apatite minerals were discovered in the drill holes ores from which phosphates can be extracted.

President of First Phosphate, Peter Kent, commented: "These initial drill results confirm our previous high-grade surface discoveries and are among the highest-grade drill results ever determined in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region of Quebec." First Phosphate, which began trading in Frankfurt in addition to Toronto in late February, has a market capitalization of EUR 26.29 million. The Canadians should benefit from rising demand from the electric vehicle industry in the long term.

ThyssenKrupp - High investments

Germany's biggest steel producer continues pursuing its climate protection targets and optimizing its energy and climate efficiency. With an investment sum of around EUR 150 million, the steel division is focusing on a new annealing and insulation line at its Bochum site, further expanding its business in the electromobility sector. The new line is expected to produce up to 218,000 tons of non-grain-oriented electrical steel annually. Production is scheduled to start in 2024, with the Düsseldorf-based SMS Group as the partner. According to a company statement, the energy-efficient unit will be able to produce thinner electrical steel with particularly homogeneous mechanical and magnetic properties, designed to meet the requirements of highly efficient motors, such as those used primarily in electric vehicles.

There is also encouraging news to report from Nucera, the hydrogen subsidiary in Brazil. thyssenkrupp Nucera will supply the chemical company Unigel in the state of Bahia with a plant for the production of green hydrogen four times larger than previously planned. During the visit of German Economics Minister Robert Habeck to Brazil, both sides signed a letter of intent to this effect, according to the Company. According to the agreement, capacity is to be increased from 60 to 240 MW. The Unigel plant is to be the first in Brazil to produce green hydrogen on an industrial scale using renewable energy. The first part consisting of Nucera standard electrolyzers with 60 MW capacity, is to be delivered as early as the end of 2023.

Nordex - New order from Brandenburg

According to the rather sobering figures, the wind turbine manufacturer posted an operating loss of EUR 244 million for the full year 2022, after the profit in the previous year was EUR 53 million. However, there is a tailwind from Brandenburg in terms of new orders.

The Hamburg-based company received an order from a project company managed by regenerative service provider E-Wikom to deliver and install turbines for the Ostprignitz wind farm with a total capacity of 50.4 MW. Nordex will supply and install eight N149/5.X turbines and one N133/4800 turbine, each with a hub height of 164 meters, at the beginning of 2024. The maintenance and repair of the total of 9 turbines over a period of 20 years are also part of the order. From commissioning, which is scheduled for the end of 2024, the turbines are expected to feed around 125 GWh of electricity per year into the grid.

After the setback due to the disappointing annual figures, the share showed a strong recovery with a price of EUR 14.88. The next resistance is at the annual high in the area of EUR 15.63.

The German government wants to further accelerate the energy turnaround. Nordex received a further order from Brandenburg. ThyssenKrupp is working on its climate protection targets. First Phosphate was able to announce high-grade drilling results.