Britishvolt picks Blyth for 30-GWh-plus battery factory

Britishvolt Ltd has selected a site in the North East of England to build its 30-GWh-plus lithium ion battery factory, planning to begin construction next summer.

The company said last week it has acquired exclusive rights to the 95-ha (234.8 acres) site in Blyth, Northumberland, which was formerly the site of the Blyth coal-fired power station. Its project will create what will be the UK’s first battery gigafactory, requiring a total investment of GBP 2.6 billion (USD 3.5bn/EUR 2.8bn).

Construction of the so-called Gigaplant is due to begin in the summer of 2021, while production from the initial phase will be launched by end-2023. The final stage of the manufacturing hub should become operational by end-2027.

Once the entire capacity is switched on, the new plant will be capable of producing over 300,000 lithium-ion batteries for the UK automotive and renewable energy industries.

Britishvolt said it will use renewables electricity for the manufacturing process. Options for hydropower supplies from Norway through the North Sea Link interconnector are considered, as well.

Construction services group ISG will be in charge of building the Gigaplant. Italy’s Pininfarina created the project design.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.329/EUR 1.094)

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