UK’s first battery gigaplant to be built in Blyth

ISG is set to start construction of what is said to be the UK’s first battery gigaplant. Located in the Northumberland town of Blyth, Britishvolt gigaplant will be operational by the end of 2023 and has been designed by Pininfarina to produce lithium-ion batteries for the automotive and energy storage industries

Housed in steel-framed structures, the facility will provide 3,000 jobs and up to 5,000 in the wider supply chain.

Britishvolt CEO, Orral Nadjari 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. 

“Our gigaplant project is now on track in every key area: construction, product development, funding and a high-level of customer engagement for our world-class lithium-ion batteries. It’s essential that we are ready to power the future as quickly as possible.” 

ISG CEO, Paul Cossell added: “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 net-zero emissions by 2050 and closely aligned with the government’s key commitment to cease petrol and diesel car manufacturing by 2030.”

The gigaplant is being built on a 95-hectare site, which was 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.