Government confirms funding for ‘Britain’s first’ gigafactory

The new gigaplant in Cambois, Northumberland is to receive £100m

The bosses of UK battery tech manufacturer Britishvolt have received confirmation about the government’s support for their plans to build a gigafactory in Blyth in Northumberland.

The project which is claimed to be Britain’s first battery gigaplant will receive £100 million in government funding.

The gigafactory will be seated at the former coal-fired power station in Blyth in Northumberland.

The £2.6 billion project at the 95-hectare Blyth Power Station site will use renewable energy from the UK and possibly hydroelectric power generated in Norway and transmitted 447 miles under the North Sea through the ‘world’s longest’ interconnector from the North Sea Link project.

By 2027, Britishvolt estimates the gigaplant will be producing around 300,000 lithium-ion batteries a year.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “I’m delighted to confirm we have now provided Britishvolt with a final grant offer through the Automotive Transformation Fund.

“The Blyth gigafactory will turbocharge our plans to embed a globally competitive electric vehicle (EV )supply chain in the UK and it is fantastic to see how the project is progressing.

“The vast site will ensure Britain can fully capture the benefits of the booming global EV market.”

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