Battery startups unveil plans to build UK’s first gigafactory

The two firms have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) pledging to work together on the construction of a plant for producing large volumes of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage.

Britishvolt chief executive Lars Carlstrom said that the aim of the two companies is to build a factory able to produce 30 gigawatt hours-worth of lithium batteries per year for the domestic market, thereby providing a much-need boost to the UK’s growing electric vehicle sector and creating as many as 4000 new jobs.

“It is costly and carbon-intensive to have lithium ion batteries imported from the Far East, and this GigaPlant would cement a solid onshore supply chain to ensure quality and eliminate future uncertainty of supply,” he said.

Kevin Brundish, CEO of AMTE Power, which already operates a cell manufacturing plant in Thurso, Scotland, added: “The recent global crisis has further highlighted the importance of having a robust onshore supply chain, and the creation of a GigaPlant would place the UK in a strong position to service automotive and energy storage markets.”