The Bolloré group has made official its plans to build a gigafactory in Alsace to produce new-generation batteries. The announcement was made during a visit by French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire to the Blue Solutions battery plant in Ergué-Gabéric, Brittany. Scheduled to be operational by 2030, the Gigafactory aims to create around 1,500 jobs and produce 25 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries a year, equivalent to 250,000 vehicles.
A new industrial sector
The gigafactory project in Alsace symbolizes the reindustrialization of France. The Minister of the Economy stressed that this project marked an important step in the creation of a new industrial sector in France. At the same time, a pilot line will be built in Ergué-Gabéric from 2026, creating 230 additional jobs. The Brittany region and the Quimper Bretagne Occidentale conurbation will contribute between 13 and 14 million euros to the financing of this pilot line.
New-generation batteries
Blue Solutions’ 4th generation batteries are solid lithium-metal batteries. According to Bolloré, these batteries offer 40% more range than current lithium-ion batteries. They are also claimed to be faster to recharge, with higher energy density and reduced self-discharge. Group CEO Cyrille Bolloré highlighted Bolloré’s unique innovation, claiming that the group is the only one in the world to have industrialized the production of solid lithium-metal batteries after its involvement in the biodiesel field.
Public investment and support
The gigafactory project represents a total investment of over 2.2 billion euros. Details of public funding for this project have not been released by the Ministry of the Economy or the Alsace region. Nonetheless, this project is seen as a key element in France’s reindustrialization strategy, with a production sector for electric batteries that didn’t exist five years ago.
Perspectives and objectives
With this project, France aims to recreate a new industrial sector that could represent some 20,000 industrial jobs within ten years. The gigafactory’s annual production capacity of 25 GWh will support the transition to electric vehicles, responding to growing demand for more sustainable energy solutions.
Bolloré’s gigafactory project in Alsace represents a major step forward in France’s energy transition. The Bolloré Group is positioning itself as a world leader in the field of new-generation batteries, based on the technological innovation of solid-state lithium-metal batteries. The project promises to transform the French industrial landscape and boost the country’s competitiveness in the renewable energies sector.
