Verkor
Verkor was founded in 2020 with the sole ambition of fast-tracking low-carbon battery production in France, to serve the European market. With a team of international experts in the battery sector, Verkor strives for manufacturing excellence by optimising proven technology. Verkor is focused on the large-scale industrialisation of lithium-ion batteries – an ambitious project that will power up phase by phase. The first of these will be the creation of the Verkor Innovation Centre, kicking off the Verkor adventure, followed by the construction of a Gigafactory.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Manufacturer
- Industry Type:
- Energy Storage
- Market Focus:
- Internationally (various countries)
Drive
Against the backdrop of climate issues relating to the transport industry, Verkor was born with the clear goal of making Europe a key manufacturer of the batteries of the future. In 2020, the global pandemic drove home the realisation that profound change was needed. This is how six change-makers from diverse backgrounds came together to create Verkor.
Our ambition is to increase the manufacture of low-carbon batteries to meet the growing demand for electric vehicles.
Backed by prominent shareholders EIT InnoEnergy, Groupe IDEC, Schneider Electric, Capgemini, Renault Group, EQT Ventures, Arkema, Tokai COBEX, Demeter FMET, Plastic Omnium and Sibanye-Stillwater, Verkor has been mandated to accelerate the large-scale industrialisation of batteries in Europe, and roll out intelligent and sustainable manufacturing processes as part of the first French Gigafactory.
CHALLENGE
The future will be electricEverything points to the mobility of tomorrow being resolutely electric:
- Environmental regulations
- Lower battery manufacturing costs
- More affordable cars
- The user experience
The massive development of electric transport and stationary storage is increasing the demand for batteries. There is a lot at stake for Europe which struggles to be competitive on a market still dominated by Asian and American manufacturers.
The local academic and industrial landscape, which includes Verkor, is in the midst of a powerful wave of innovation. Europe needs to be able to manufacture battery cells locally, thereby creating jobs and investment opportunities across the continent. According to the European Battery Alliance, set up by the European Commission in 2017, over €250 billion will need to be invested in the European battery market by 2025.
In France alone, at least three Gigafactories will need to be built by 2025 to meet growing market demand.
Open innovation is in Verkor’s DNA. A European battery industry that covers the entire value chain — from raw materials and industrial equipment to recycling — needs to be created. Strategic partners are already behind this major challenge, and new players in the sector will be announced.
Verkor is spearheading a new business model: it wants to commit to a clean and locally-based technological future that is in tune with the deep aspirations of today’s society. The first batteries it will manufacture in France will have a carbon footprint four to five times smaller than those manufactured in China. This is thanks to France’s low-carbon energy mix, the vertical integration of manufacturing, and innovations in digitalisation and recycling.
Closer to customers, local manufacturing also shrinks the logistics footprint, including emissions, and boosts the economy through investment and job creation.
Verkor stands by its convictions and is committed to a green approach throughout the battery life cycle — from the choice of components to recycling.These strengths will help to establish the battery sector as a sustainable industry that meets the growing demands imposed by the energy transition.
COMMITMENT
The power of collective intelligenceVerkor’s greatest asset is its human capital. Today, the team comprises some 220 experts from 29 different countries who are using their multidisciplinary talents to build an innovative project on a European scale. To take Verkor even further, more committed individuals bringing new skills will soon be joining the adventure.
Ambition
This is where our story really takes shape. The VIC operates as a test centre to create the conditions for the project’s success. To do so, it provides three major functions:
The VIC Innovation Centre
This is the VIC’s primary function: to develop the products, cells and modules constituting the low-carbon batteries of tomorrow, and perform full-scale testing of innovative digital manufacturing processes.
The VIC Megafactory
A small-scale replica of the future Gigafactory will have a production capacity of 100 to 150 MWh to manufacture the very first Verkor battery cells.
The VIC Training Centre
A new generation of experts in the battery sector will be trained here, with access to the resources and the facilities of a state-of-the-art research laboratory.
Based on the innovations coming out of the VIC, the Verkor Gigafactory will have an annual production capacity of 16 GWh in lithium-ion batteries. That’s enough to fit out 300,000 electric vehicles and create over 1,200 direct jobs. This output is in step with Europe’s growing demand for batteries for e-mobility and stationary storage.
The Verkor Gigafactory will make its mark as the world’s most modern and efficient Gigafactory thanks to its data architecture and unprecedented levels of industrial digitalisation.
Verkor has selected the Port of Dunkirk in the Hauts-de-France region as the site for its first Gigafactory, to develop low-carbon battery cells designed to support Europe’s carbon neutrality goals.
in lithium-ion battery cells per year
direct jobs
production site
Verkor’s first French Gigafactory will open a new chapter in the company’s history. By 2030, its production capacity should reach 50 GWh. The long-term development strategy will be supported by new international facilities, with the backing of French and European industrial and institutional partners.
Verkor is determined to push the boundaries and be part of a more environmentally responsible mobility model. Our teams are committed, talented, have a taste for adventure and a positive mindset. We’re ready to move mountains!