Siemens signs technology deal with Britishvolt to create ‘most efficient’ UK battery gigafactory

January 18, 2021
LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email
The UK gigafactory is to be built in Northumberland, with Britishvolt helming the project. Image: Britishvolt

Siemens has partnered with the company behind what is to be the UK’s first lithium-ion battery gigafactory, providing it with its Digital Enterprise Technology.

Britishvolt will have access to Siemens’ electrification solutions, automation and Digital Twin manufacturing execution technology, with this system giving the company the opportunity to simulate gigaplant production processes and flows ahead of construction and completion as well as promising to speed up delivery times.

Siemens is also to provide Britishvolt with its design and simulation development tools, accelerating the time it takes for battery cells to go from laboratory to production at scale.

Having been unveiled in May, the gigafactory has gone through a location change, originally announcing South Wales as the location after Britishvolt signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Welsh government. However, it has now been relocated to Northumberland in England on a site that previously held the now demolished coal-fired Blyth Power Station.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The gigafactory – which Carl Ennis, CEO Siemens GB and Ireland, described as a “vital” project – is to start delivering the first batteries at the end of 2023, with a production capacity of up to 35GWh. Ennis added that Siemens’ is to use its manufacturing and energy infrastructure technology and services to help Britishvolt to build “the most efficient, sustainable gigaplant”.

Our publisher Solar Media is once again hosting the annual Energy Storage Summit for 2021, taking place in an exciting new format on 23-24 February and 2-3 March 2021. See the website for more details.

15 September 2026
San Diego, USA
You can expect to meet and network with all the key industry players again in 2025 from major US asset owners, operators, RTOs and ISOs, optimizers, software and analytics providers, technical consultancies, O&M technology providers and more.
13 October 2026
London, UK
Now in its second edition, the Summit provides a dedicated platform for UK & Ireland’s BESS community to share practical insights on performance, degradation, safety, market design and optimisation strategies. As storage deployment accelerates towards 2030 targets, attendees gain the tools needed to enhance returns and operate resilient, efficient assets.

Read Next

Premium
February 13, 2026
Energy-Storage.news Premium hears from Giovanni Damato, President of organic flow battery company CMBlu Energy, Inc., on changes to FEOC and Section 301 tariffs.
February 13, 2026
Major Australian energy generator-retailer EnergyAustralia has reached financial close on its 250MWh Hallett battery energy storage system (BESS) in South Australia.
February 13, 2026
CleanCo Queensland has officially opened the Swanbank BESS, a 250MW/500MWh facility in Ipswich, Australia.
February 12, 2026
Potentia Renewables has successfully closed financing for the Skyview 2 battery energy storage system (BESS) in Edwardsburgh Cardinal, Ontario, Canada.
February 12, 2026
Two BESS projects in Yuma County, Arizona, one from BrightNight, and one from Leeward Renewable Energy, have reached significant milestones.