EnerVenue, a US developer of long-duration storage technology, has opened a gigafactory in Shelby County, Kentucky.
The site will become the company’s manufacturing plant for its Energy Storage Vessels, the second generation of its large-format battery technology enabling more scalable configurations, including for large-scale renewable energy storage.
The gigafactory is expected to begin production by the end of the year.
All aspects of design and process validation, manufacturing and testing will be performed onsite.
The first phase of the project will encompass one gigawatt hour of annual production. EnerVenue expects to invest in excess of $1bn to expand to more than 20 gigawatt hours a year across its domestic manufacturing sites in subsequent phases.
The new gigafactory, located in the heart of Kentucky’s manufacturing region, is expected to create 450 full-time jobs during the initial opening and first phase of the production ramp.
Shelby County offered EnerVenue a generous long-term incentive package comprising property and wage tax rebates totalling $20m over a 25-year period, which is commensurate with the company’s significant local investment.
The state of Kentucky also offered EnerVenue more than $10.3m in tax incentives for the first phase of the company’s ramp.
“We are excited to welcome EnerVenue to Shelby County and look forward to the positive impact its gigafactory will have on our local economy,” said Dan Ison, Shelby County Judge Executive.
“With this facility, county residents will be afforded new, lucrative career opportunities.”
EnerVenue continues to see accelerating demand for its unique solution for safe, durable, and versatile clean energy storage. The company has more than 7GWh of customer commitments, including from Pine Gate Renewables, Nicon Industries’ Green Energy Renewable Solutions, and Sonnell Power Solutions, among others.
Jorg Heinemann, CEO of EnerVenue, said: “Following a nationwide vetting process, Kentucky emerged as the ideal fit to build our new facility.
“The state and county governments were committed to bringing manufacturing and clean energy jobs to the region, and we look forward to working with them as we build out operations.”
The gigafactory also continues to grow EnerVenue’s national footprint.
The company recently expanded its operations in Fremont, California and secured long-term materials and equipment supply agreements with Precision Process and Precious Plate in Niagara Falls, New York.