UK battery gigaplant ready by 2023

Britishvolt, the UK battery technology company, has appointed ISG to lead construction on its £2.6 billion battery gigaplant in Blyth, Northumberland that will be operational by the end of 2023.

Construction will start in summer 2021 and once up and running it will produce lithium-ion batteries for the automotive and renewable energy industries at the end of 2023. 

Construction of further phases will continue until the end of 2027.

Production will eventually scale up to be able to deliver 300,000 lithium-ion batteries annually.

The Blythe gigaplant is located under 20 miles north of Nissan's Sunderland factory, which makes the Leaf electric vehicle.

Orral Nadjari, Britishvolt chief executive, said: “We’re delighted to have engaged ISG as the construction partner for our Blyth gigaplant.

“Its long expertise of delivering global projects will be crucial to meeting our exacting standards and tight timeframe.”

ISG built Jaguar Land Rover’s production facility in Slovakia and it is also currently working on two flagship schemes in London: University College’s £280 million neuroscience hub and the Oak Cancer Centre at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Paul Cossell, ISG chief executive, said: “This landmark project to build the UK’s first gigaplant is one of the most visible signs that we are confidently stepping up to meet the challenge of new zero emissions by 2050 and closely aligned with the government’s key commitment to cease petrol and diesel car manufacturing by 2030.

“The construction phase alone will directly support thousands of jobs in the North East and create a wealth of training and upskilling opportunities for local communities.”

The gigaplant is being designed by leading Italian design experts Pininfarina.

It will be built on a 95-hectare site, formerly the site of the Blyth Power Station.

It will exclusively use renewable energy, including the potential to use hydro-electric power generated in Norway and transmitted 447 miles under the North Sea via the world’s longest inter-connector from the North Sea Link project.