BasqueVolt begins its journey with the goal of becoming the first solid-state battery cell factory in Europe with its own technology. The entity plans to reach a production capacity of 10 GWh per year in five years, reaching 10% of the European market in this sector. A road that requires an investment of about 720 million euros and, according to El Correo, will create more than 800 jobs. The Basque Country’s major commitment is to position itself in the new electric vehicle scenario, but also focus on stationary storage systems to be able to save energy by expanding battery applications.
The company was founded last Friday with the creation of
Iberdrola, CIE Automotive and Enagas to shareholders. They are the business part complemented by the Basque government, which is also a shareholder of BasqueVolt and with
CIC Energigun, the technology center promoted by the Executive that holds the patent for the technology of solid state cells and developed on a composite ceramic electrolyte. The BasqueVolt home is also supplemented with:
EIT InnoEnergya European body that coordinates and helps finance energy transition projects.
In the presentation of the partner company, the Minister of Economic Development of the Basque Government,
Arantxa Tapia, has insisted on the importance of “developing our own technology” in a strategic sector, not only for the automotive industry, but also for the challenge of energy storage in all its applications. Tapia has defended that “from the Basque Country and towards Europe” the development of this commitment is promoted from an innovation center and through public-private partnership.
The initial goals of the company are the development of prototype cells and a pilot production line that will be operational by 2025,
with the ambition to start producing in 2027
The automotive industry leads the demand for batteries, which is why it is one of the main sectors BasqueVolt is betting on in its initial development. For example, Mercedes has already confirmed its commitment to become the battery cell factory’s first customer and with a commitment that, without becoming a shareholder, is an important support. In the project for its new factory in Vitoria, where it will build the electric model for the German multinational, it already includes BasqueVolt as an important agent in the documentation submitted to the Automotive PERTE to receive European funds.
In addition, the presence of CIE Automotive in the shareholding of BasqueVolt is another key to growth in this sector. Gestamp, although not of a corporate interest, is one of the Basque car brands that reinforce this vocation. The company headed by
Francis Riberas has launched a line of work with the design of the structure that integrates batteries in vehicles and will actively cooperate with BasqueVolt.
Vice President of CIE,
Fermin from Riois convinced that if “we have been a benchmark in the auxiliary car industry, we will now be in the storage industry”.
Solid-state battery technology is the only one that meets the automotive industry’s most demanding performance requirements, which is why it is becoming the strategic focus of the automotive industry. The advantage of solid-state batteries over liquid ones is that they allow better efficiency, longer life and less wear and tear when charging. Thanks to its technological base, Basquevolt aims to become the European leader in solid-state batteries.
The presence of Iberdrola as a shareholder is also a commitment by the energy company to develop storage technology. This has been pointed out by its institutional representative in Euskadi,
Channels of Assisi, who has insisted on the importance of developing seasonal battery cells to store the energy generated above punctual demand. Moreover, Canales has maintained that this participation is a sign of Iberdrola’s commitment to Euskadi.
Enagas participated through its venture capital business unit. A structure it uses to promote the development of strategic projects and start-ups. The company is looking to BasqueVolt battery cells for the opportunity to develop storage systems that can play a relevant role along with the use of hydrogen in its business activities.
The headquarters during the first phase of the plant’s development will be the old building that was housed in the Miñano Technology Park (Álava), the failed Basque Formula 1 project,
Epsilon Euskadic, the wind tunnel building. And that he is recovering to begin this project that he will announce to his CEO next week.
The regional Executive explains that the plan will continue in each of its phases and that the arrival of extraordinary funding, such as that of European funds, will determine its speed. The network of Technology Parks in the Basque Country will for the time being invest 10 million euros in expanding its facilities in Alava by 740,000 square meters, creating space for BasqueVolt to grow.
This gigafactory was one of the projects de Lehendakari sent to Vice President Nadia Calviño in the letter highlighting the Basque Country’s priorities to access European funds. In addition, it has also included it in the special investment plan that Urkullu itself presented on March 30. A fund created by the Executive Board and the councils with 530 million euros until 2024 to start strategic projects and thus anticipate the arrival of the Next Generation EU funds. BasqueVolt will receive a first tranche of 30.5 million in this plan. In addition, the Provincial Council of Álava has pledged another 1.4 million euros to the project.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
