Italy’s first lithium-ion gigafactory is a step closer to being built this week after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Italvolt and regional authorities.
The MoU is the latest step in plans to build a 1,000,000m2 plant in the second half of 2024 that will deliver a production capacity of 45GWh.
The final plant design is expected to be submitted by June in order to receive construction permits by early 2023, for production in 2024.
The MoU sets out goals to coordinate the actions and procedures of the signatories: the Piedmont Region, the Metropolitan City of Turin and the municipalities of Scarmagno, Romano Canavese and Ivrea.
The signatories will help establish a Technical Table of Coordination that will be chaired by a delegate of the region to coordinate and support the various institutional offices involved, with a view to efficient administrative action.
In addition, the signatories are committed to complete the procedure within seven months from the submission of the application, expected by June.
The gigafactory is planned to be built in Scarmagno and Romano Canavese.
Stefano Sertoli, mayor of the Municipality of Ivrea, said the MoU represented a fundamental step towards meeting the timetable for the realisation of an industrial plan that would mark an epoch-making step for the area.
Recyling and battery making
Last April, battery recycler American Manganese signed a MOU to develop a commercial recycling plant alongside Italvolt’s planned gigafactory.
The firms will work collaboratively to recycle waste lithium-ion battery cathode material using the US company’s RecycLiCo™ process to recover metals, such as: lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese and aluminium.
MoU shows Europe’s battery makers are embracing EU sustainability goals
