Verkor opens 16 GWh battery cell factory in Dunkirk

Verkor has completed construction of its battery cell and module production facility in the port of Dunkirk (French: Dunkerque) in just two years. The facility, named Gigafactory Bourbourg, began construction in November 2023. Upon full operation, it is expected to create around 1,200 direct and 3,000 indirect jobs. French President Emmanuel Macron attended the opening: “The inauguration of this Gigafactory, the third in this Region, demonstrates that reindustrialisation, innovation, and decarbonization can move forward together. We are creating jobs, strengthening our technology and energy autonomy, and preparing the future of mobility in France and across Europe,” he said.Verkor’s primary customer for its battery cells is the Renault Group. The car manufacturer entered into a strategic partnership with Verkor in 2021, which was later converted into a commercial partnership (a binding supply agreement) in April 2023. Together, the companies aim to develop and manufacture high-performance batteries for Renault’s electric vehicles from the C-segment upwards, as well as for Alpine models. Meanwhile, Verkor’s research and development operations are based in Grenoble, where the Verkor Innovation Centre (VIC) is located. The VIC began operations at the end of June 2023.According to the latest announcement marking the factory’s opening, the first cells produced in Dunkirk will be used in the Alpine A390 from 2026. Renault had previously announced plans to source 10 GWh from Verkor by 2026, increasing to 20 GWh by 2030. However, these figures date back to 2023, and the French company has not provided an update. Notably, Verkor has adhered to its timeline for the opening and its targeted output (16 GWh from 2026, 50 GWh from 2030). While many other companies have revised their targets downward this year, Verkor remains committed to the plans it presented in 2023.“The inauguration of this Gigafactory, the third in this Region, demonstrates that reindustrialisation, innovation, and decarbonization can move forward together. We are creating jobs, strengthening our technology and energy autonomy, and preparing the future of mobility in France and across Europe,” the company stated. The VIC develops and validates battery technologies, future battery platforms, and product platforms, while the gigafactory drives large-scale industrialisation.According to company representatives, the VIC’s pilot line operates around the clock and has ‘produced tens of thousands of cells, guaranteeing process reliability and initial volumes for the customer.’ For several months, the gigafactory has been assembling modules using cells from the VIC. With the official opening now complete, it is also producing its own cells.Verkor CEO Benoit Lemaignan commented: “The inauguration of our Gigafactory, five years after Verkor’s creation, marks the culmination of an exceptional commitment from our teams and the steadfast support of our partners.” He added that the project embodies Europe’s energy transition and the industrialisation of key technologies required for it in France and Europe. “It demonstrates that decarbonization and value creation in our territories can go hand in hand. Driven by strong political ambition, this milestone symbolizes Verkor’s transition into a European industrial company and opens the way for the imminent delivery of our batteries.”The major project was financed thanks to investors and lenders. Verkor states that it has secured over €3 billion since 2020 for the construction of the gigafactory and the VIC. Alone, €2 billion in fresh capital was raised in September 2023 as part of its Series C funding round. “This achievement was made possible by a financial ecosystem combining leading public and private investors, a real asset for supporting the growth of green technologies,” the company stated.Verkor’s supporters include Macquarie Asset Management, Meridiam, Renault, EQT Ventures, EIT InnoEnergy, and Sibanye-Stillwater. The company can also rely on a consortium of international banks and public institutions, including the European Investment Bank, Bpifrance Assurance Export, the French government (via the ‘France 2030’ programme), the Hauts-de-France region, the Dunkirk urban community, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, and the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME).verkor.comThis article was first published by Cora Werwitzke for electrive’s German edition.