OSLO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Norwegian battery startup Morrow, which opened its first factory earlier this month, has reached a preliminary deal to deliver power storage systems to Ukraine, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

Morrow said it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Ukraine's State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving (SAEE), adding that a final deal may involve support from sources including external financial donors.

Ukraine says Russia is attacking electricity infrastructure in the ongoing war, damaging the power supply and leading to frequent blackouts.

That means Kyiv is keen to establish energy storage facilities in every school and hospital as soon as possible, Morrow quoted SAEE as saying.

Morrow, which aims to produce its first commercial units by the end of this year, said it plans to deliver lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells to help boost the resilience of the Ukrainian energy system.

"We share a great sense of urgency and will do our part in being ready to sign a firm offtake agreement and start deliveries of battery cells from the first quarter 2025," Morrow CEO Lars Christian Bacher said in the statement.

"Ukraine has a large estimated need for batteries over the next years to help stabilise their energy system," the company added.

Norway has said it is keen to develop a battery making industry, benefiting from access to the country's renewable electricity and a proximity to European customers.

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https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/norways-morrow-agrees-supply-ukraine-with-battery-storage-systems-2024-08-27/