At Parc Sagunt II, PowerCo's battery cell gigafactory is progressing with visible milestones and set dates: barring any setbacks, the The first cells will be released in September 2026 and the stable pace will consolidate throughout 2027. The plant will be launched focused on supplying Martorell and Landabenwith orders already committed to other Volkswagen Group centers in Europe.
With a global investment of 3.000 billion eurosIn just over a year, the company has erected eleven industrial buildings and deployed a modular construction model that accelerates commissioning. Approximately [number missing] people work on the project daily. 1.400 people between own staff and contractors, and the goal is to activate a recruitment plan for the production areas in 2026.
Status of the works and schedule
The first production block will have the Civil works completed before Christmas, alongside the inbound and outbound logistics buildings. This year, the following have been installed 1.235 pillarsmore than 11.000 tons of structural steel and 12.000 m2 of sandwich panel, and the quality laboratory, the energy center and the truck reception building are already underway.
To ensure the manufacturing environment, PowerCo has entrusted K-Ensol the integration of clean and dry roomswhich will total 57.000 m2 distributed across 17 rooms. A humidity less than 1% and a temperature of 21°C, with high-capacity dehumidifiers and access protocols with air showers, since dust, water and vapors can compromise cell quality.
The industrial plan anticipates starting the installation of production equipment at the beginning of 2026to launch pre-series in September 2026 and reach cruising speed operation during 2027. The first phase adds 20GWh and is composed of two 10 GWh blocks; the second block It will start in the first half of 2027.
The construction is block sequential to avoid depending on the closure of the entire complex. A [unclear - possibly "equipment" or "system"] has even been installed at the construction site. own cement factory in order not to strain the local concrete market, from which 60% of the material used comes, and daily activity moves around 350 trucksIn the technical offices, the English is the working language between teams.
Capacity, technology and flexibility
Each 10 GWh block is designed to produce around 55.000 cells per dayWith two blocks, the figure would approach 110.000 units per day. With an average consumption of approximately 100 cells per vehicleThe volume will allow us to meet the demand for electric cars that will be assembled in Martorell and Landaben and complement other European plants of the group.
The gigafactory will start with batteries LFP (lithium iron phosphate) and has a flexible architecture for manufacturing NMCIn the medium and long term, the company plans to integrate sodium ions and solid state on a standardized cell format within the consortium.
After assembly, the cells go to training and aging for 11 days with loading and unloading cycles under controlled conditions, a requirement for its release to outbound logistics. The operation will be automated 24/7 in production, with a fleet of autonomous vehicles that will move materials in cleanrooms.
Logistics and rail connection
The logistics (inbound) building, of 25.000 m2It is sized to handle more than 400 tons per day of raw materials, with 12.000 pallets with capacity and specific safety zones for chemicals and sensitive materials. The plant will work with an average stock of four days and internal shipments will be made by aerial tunnels with conveyor belts towards the production buildings.
PowerCo will prioritize the ferrocarril Whenever feasible, with a common outbound connection for all phases and a direct connection to the intermodal station promoted by Espais Econòmics Empresarials. The culmination of Mediterranean Corridor in the section Castellón-Tarragona and the improvement of the axis Sagunto-Cantabrico They are critical for shipping cells competitively and reducing the carbon footprint.
The factory is equipped for road and rail transport, but the company insists on rail as the best option. logistics backbonePhased design eliminates bottlenecks: Inbound operates five days a week and three shifts, while Production will operate 24/7coordinating flows and warehouses with software and autonomous guidance.
Employment, suppliers and environment
Currently there 1.400 people Currently under construction (300 direct jobs at PowerCo and approximately 1.100 through contractors such as Intercon, Cobra, Pavasal, BertolÃn, FCC, San José, and OHLA). Starting from JanuaryThe company will begin the selection process for 500 workers throughout 2026 in production, maintenance, quality and logistics, with specific training and future support Battery CampusAt full capacity in phase one, the direct workforce will reach 1.600 jobs.
The complex occupies approximately 130 hectares (with space for up to three phases, equivalent to about 162 football fields) and aims to attract a supplier ecosystem in Parc Sagunt II. Part of the civil engineering work is carried out by Valencian firms (around 35%), reinforcing the local anchoring of the project.
In the energy sector, PowerCo is promoting a photovoltaic plant intended to cover approximately 30% of electricity consumption. After discarding the initial alliance, the company has opened a competitive process to select new operator of the park, while the regional government is moving forward with the land procedures.
The gigafactory will supply Martorell and Landaben and will fulfill orders from other Volkswagen factories in Europe, with a view to consolidating a European value chain of more resilient, competitive and independent batteries.
The project in Sagunto consolidates its roadmap: civil works of the first block completed Before Christmas, integration of cleanrooms and equipment by early 2026, first cells in September 2026 and ramp-up during 2027, with employment, rail logistics and technological capacity as pillars to supply Spain and the rest of Europe.