ENTEK and Britishvolt sign non-binding MoU to develop battery separator technologies, with future vision to collocate at site in Northumberland
June 14, 2021
- Core future objective to onshore battery separator production in UK, enabling shorter supply chains essential for roadmap to net-zero
- Colocation is a key part of Britishvolt’s long-term business model, enabling the ability to produce some of the world’s most low-carbon, sustainable lithium-ion batteries
- ENTEK brings market leading battery separator expertise and will continue to invest in the UK to scale up facilities; aims for first UK separator production plant
Northumberland, Monday June 14, 2021 – Britishvolt, the UK’s foremost investor in battery cell technologies and associated R&D, has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with ENTEK Membranes for the possible supply of battery separators, with an objective to colocate as the lithium-ion Gigaplant manufacturing facility scales up to full production.
The MoU is another signal that Britishvolt is firmly on track to deliver one of the UK’s largest industrial investments and build a full-scale lithium-ion Gigaplant, located in Cambois, near Blyth, Northumberland.
The MoU’s core objective is to enable the scalable production of world-class lithium-battery separators to create and expand an onshore UK manufacturing ecosystem and supply chain.
The collaboration will take advantage of ENTEK’s robust technology and protected intellectual property related to coated lithium separator composites. The MoU is the foundation for a long-term separator supply agreement that will allow ENTEK to invest in the UK’s first lithium battery separator plant.
Local supply chains are essential for the roadmap to net-zero. As we emerge from the pandemic, shorter, nimble, and lower carbon logistics routes have been thrust into the limelight. These are a key component of the Britishvolt business model.
Colocation at the Britishvolt Gigaplant site in Northumberland, the best in the UK and one of the top sites in Europe, will allow access to an abundance of renewable energy, essential for power intensive manufacturing processes.
The agreement will see ENTEK invest in its UK production sites and expand capacity to meet demand.
ENTEK will make a staged investment in its UK production facilities beginning with a coating operation to be installed at, or near to, ENTEK’s current manufacturing site in Killingworth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This initial proposed facility is intended to serve Britishvolt’s early-stage battery production needs and the base separator material will be supplied by ENTEK’s US production facility.
Larry Keith, ENTEK CEO said:
“We are delighted to have been selected as Britishvolt’s preferred lithium-ion battery separator partner and eager to align our objectives and investments with their transformational plans to build a 30+ gigawatt hour factory in the UK”
Isobel Sheldon OBE, Chief Strategy Officer, Britishvolt said:
“This is a hugely important and exciting collaboration, that fits perfectly with Britishvolt’s ESG-mandated business model. Battery manufacturing is hugely energy intensive, and to be able to collocate facilities where there is an abundance of renewable energy is a major boon for both the industry and society. We are aiming to produce some of the most low carbon, sustainable lithium-ion battery cells on the planet, and partnerships such as this will help us meet our goals.”
Together, ENTEK and Britishvolt are committed to powering the future of electrification of mobililty.
Britishvolt remains on track to begin construction of its Gigaplant located in Cambois Northumberland, later this year, with production of battery cells due to begin in Q4,2023. Full production of around 30 GWh is scheduled for end-2027.
Safe Harbour.
Certain statements in this press release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectation intended to qualify for the ‘safe harbor’ under the U.S. Private Securities Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements.
The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, competition including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, equipment procurement, wage increases, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time contracts or time and material construction contracts, customer concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage international operations, reduced demand, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages related to battery service agreements, the success of the companies in which Britishvolt has made strategic partnerships, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies and unauthorised use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. In addition, please note any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions we believe to be reasonable as of the date of this press release.
