The construction of a new electric vehicle battery ‘gigaplant’ capable of building 300,000 battery packs a year has moved a step forward after it won support from the government.
ISG was announced last year as the construction partner on the project, which will be built on the site of the Blyth power station in Cambois in Northumberland.
The government has made an offer in principle of funding through the Automotive Transformation Fund to battery firm Britishvolt, which paves the way for investors Tritax and abrdn to deliver £1.7bn in private funding.
The funding will be used to build the project’s shell and core, as well as to develop the associated supplier park.
Advanced works started on 6 September 2021, following planning approval earlier in the year. The project will be built in phases, to keep up with technology advancements, and will have a total capacity of over 30GWh by the end of the decade.
Peter Rolton, Britishvolt executive chairman, said: “This announcement is a major step in putting the UK at the forefront of the global energy transition, unlocking huge private sector investment that will develop the technology and skills required for Britain to play its part in the next industrial revolution.
“The news is the first step in creating a commercialised battery ecosystem, that perfectly aligns with the existing R&D ecosystem. Britishvolt will be the anchor for attracting further sections of the supply chain, be it refining or recycling, to co-locate on the Britishvolt site. This not only shortens supply chains but also allows for partners to access the abundance of renewable energy on site to truly power low carbon, sustainable battery production.”
