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Published in: Solar, Press Releases
UK battery cell manufacturer Volklec has secured new government backing to accelerate the company’s transition from near-term power cell production to sovereign, mass-scale manufacturing. The combined public and private investment will support the rapid expansion of Volklec’s UK operations, scaling from an initial 1GWh capacity to a 10GWh gigafactory.
Delivered by the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) in partnership with Innovate UK and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), DRIVE35 is a £4 billion programme designed to support innovation, scale-up and industrial transformation across the UK’s automotive sector.
Following new backing through DRIVE35, Volklec will ramp up two critical programmes designed to industrialise and scale domestic battery cell production:
In collaboration with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and AIH Group, Volklec will speed up development of its 1GWh domestic power cell manufacturing capabilities, facilitating earlier deployment of its British-made cells. With strategic support from Arcadis and the High Speed Sustainable Manufacturing Institute (HSSMI), Volklec will also accelerate progress towards developing the UK’s first independent 10GWh battery gigafactory.
These programmes are designed to rapidly scale UK battery production to much-needed industrial levels and to secure the country’s long-term battery supply chain. By strengthening domestic battery manufacturing capabilities, Volklec is bridging the gap between battery innovation and industrialisation, and supporting the growing national demand for UK-made cells for the country’s most critical manufacturing sectors, including automotive, defence and aerospace.
Imran Khatri, founder of Volklec, commented: “The UK’s limited domestic battery manufacturing capacity has resulted in a severe bottleneck for UK PLC, leaving high-value sectors exposed to global supply chain volatility and restricted access to critical technologies.
“Volklec’s mission is to close this critical gap in the supply chain. By combining proven, production-ready cell technology with the UK’s existing industrial infrastructure, we’re able to take a staged, de-risked approach to scale-up. This gives us a faster, more pragmatic route to domestic battery production, enabling us to deliver capability today while building towards the essential giga-scale manufacturing of tomorrow.”
Government-backed support like DRIVE35 represents a critical milestone in strengthening the UK’s industrial base and ensuring that battery production can be developed, scaled and retained onshore. Through sustained government backing and long-term strategic investment, it provides industries with the confidence and continuity required to unlock private capital, accelerate industrialisation and support the delivery of vital battery manufacturing programmes.
For more information about Volklec, or its sovereign battery manufacturing capabilities, visit: www.volklec.com.
