The Basque entity plans to start up a production line in four years, with an investment of 700 million and more than 800 direct jobs
Basquevolt, the Basque solid-state battery initiative, will start battery cell production in 2027 with the goal of reaching 10GWh of capacity. The project will require an investment of 700 million euros and will generate more than 800 direct jobs.
Basquevolt’s founding act was held this Friday at the CIC Energigune facilities in the Álava Technology Park, located in Miñano.
The new entity, which includes as founding shareholders the Basque Government, Iberdrola, CIE Automotive, Enagas, EIT InnoEnergy, and CIC energiGUNE, was created with the aim of making the Basque Country a European benchmark in the development of solid-state batteries.
Basquevolt’s technology is based on the use of a compound electrolyte patented by the Basque center. The project’s promoters have explained that liquid electrolyte lithium batteries are reaching their state of maturity, and that the next technological breakthrough to truly unleash the true potential of energy storage must come from the solid state.
The experience of the companies that make up the initial group of investors makes it possible to ensure –according to the project partners– that this entity is in a “very important” competitive position in the market and development of batteries, as well as in the storage industry , which is key to being able to advance in the energy transition.
The objective is to launch a first production line within four years, supported by an investment of more than 700 million euros, and which will be capable of generating more than 800 direct jobs.
The first phase of Basquevolt will have its headquarters in the Álava Technology Park, in the Marie Curie Building (Albert Einstein, 35), located a few meters from CIC energiGUNE. The center, which will offer the new entity its technological support, based on more than ten years of research work in the field of solid-state batteries, has a team of researchers led by Michel Armand, considered the ‘father’ of polymeric solid electrolyte.
The initial goals of the company are the development of prototype cells and a pilot production line underway in 2025, with the ambition to start production in 2027.
The new technology will greatly exceed the energy density of current storage solutions. Thanks to its technological base, Basquevolt aspires to become the European leader in solid-state batteries.
The objective of the new entity is the development -in a sustainable way- of the best materials and cells for batteries, which make possible the massive implementation of electric transport -the Basque Government has reported that Mercedes Benz has already transferred its interest in being a customer of Basquevolt-, stationary energy storage and advanced portable devices.
The Minister of Economic Development, Arantxa Tapia, has highlighted that this project constitutes a “unique commitment”, which will develop a new generation of batteries made “thanks to the talent of our engineers and scientists”. Tapia has stressed that the project will produce “innovative technology that is born and produced here”, but that it will be exported “to Europe and the rest of the world”.
The minister recalled, in reference to the rise in gas prices derived from factors such as the war in Ukraine, that the current “geopolitical tensions” have an “impact” on the energy market. In this sense, she has stressed that the Basque Country “cannot continue” with its current energy and technological dependence on other areas of the world. In this way, she has pointed out that initiatives such as the one launched today will contribute to “reducing”, although not “totally eliminating”, said dependency.
The general director of CIC Energigune, Nuria Gisbert, has highlighted that with the start-up of this project “we are making history”, given that Basquevolt’s “differentiating” aspect with respect to other initiatives focused on this area has its “own technology” .
As he explained, this initiative aims to achieve a market share of 10% in the European market by 2030. Gisbert has recognized that it is an “ambitious” goal, although he stressed that “we are on the way”. The main markets to which the production of the project will be directed are electric vehicles, the stationary sector -energy storage from sources such as wind or solar- and consumer electronics.
For his part, Iberdrola’s head of Purchasing and Services, Asís Canales, stressed that the creation of this initiative shows that “persistence pays off”, and explained that the energy company “renews its commitment to the Basque Country” through of your entry into Basquevolt. Likewise, he has stated that storage capacity is “fundamental” so that renewable sources can constitute a “guaranteed” energy supply.
