Eurocell EMEA plans gigafactory in Western Europe for NCM cathodes, graphite-Si anodes
Anglo-Korean battery company, Eurocell EMEA has announced that it plans to build its first European Gigafactory in just 12 months—far faster than other Gigafactories.
This is possible, the company states, because it has a proven battery product ready for scaled-up manufacturing. Eurocell EMEA is a joint venture between FIC EMEA and three Korean battery technology companies: Eurocell, FIC Advanced Materials, and Indong Advanced Materials.
With an early £600 million (US$ 813 million) investment planned over two phases, it aims to supply European energy storage, automotive, and e-mobility applications. Full capacity will be reached as early as 2025.
The company states it will mass-produce and export its batteries from one of three key markets: the UK, the Netherlands, or Spain. It is already aggressively looking at sites and the final choice is heavily reliant on gaining the right level of central government support and investment.
Eurocell says that its batteries, developed in Korea, last more than ten times longer than conventional lithium-ion cells. A wide range of operating temperatures also makes the Eurocell cells suited to areas with extreme weather and without an existing grid network.
The Eurocell batteries blend NCM cathodes with graphite/silicon composite anodes in a prismatic form factor.
Recardo Bruins, CEO Eurocell EMEA stated "Eurocell in the UK is a new company, led by a highly experienced UK team and backed by our South Korean partner with decades of experience in electrochemistry, making batteries at mass-scale and building the Gigafactories to produce them. Now we are planning to rapidly expand in Europe, supplying the energy storage and automotive industries with our market-leading technologies that last longer, perform better, and are 100 percent safe. These products can be on the market in months, not years."
To fulfill our mission, we are actively seeking a European manufacturing base and are in advanced discussions with sites in the UK, Netherlands, and Spain. With the right level of central engagement and support, we are keen to take advantage of the rapidly growing European market as quickly as possible, Bruins further added.
Eurocell aims to construct its new Gigafactory in two phases. The first phase will begin producing advanced battery cells at scale by early 2023 for existing customers. In parallel, a bespoke facility will be constructed on the same site, capable of producing more than 40 million cells per year by 2025.
