Amara Raja Batteries Ltd announced that its inaugural giga factory is set to commence operations by the close of 2025. The company highlighted the necessity of an integrated approach for giga factories, combining advanced technology, substantial capital expenditure, giga-scale facilities, and a comprehensive ecosystem.
Last May, the company laid the foundation stone for its pioneering giga factory located in the Mahbubnagar district of Telangana. This facility is designed for the production of Lithium Cells and Battery Packs, with an ultimate capacity reaching up to 16 GWh and 5 GWh, respectively.
According to Vijayanand Samudrala, President of Amara Raja, the giga factory will comprise 3-4 individual buildings, accommodating two chemistries—NMC and LFP—and two formats—cylindrical and prismatic. Speaking at the India Energy Storage Alliance's third annual Battery Manufacturing and Supply Chain Summit in Hyderabad, Samudrala emphasized the diverse applications the capacities will cater to, spanning mobility and energy storage.
The company aims to achieve 16 GWh of lithium-ion battery cell capacity and up to 5 GWh of battery capacity. Samudrala mentioned that the first phase of the project is expected to be completed within 24 months, ensuring the operationalization of the giga factory by the conclusion of the next calendar year (2025).
Elaborating on the integrated approach required for giga factories, Samudrala emphasized the importance of not only a large standalone factory but also comprehensive trunk infrastructure, including road connectivity, water availability, power facilities, training facilities, and involvement of upstream and downstream value chain players. This holistic strategy is deemed essential for the success and sustainability of the ambitious giga factory project.
(With Agency Inputs)
