KORE Power, a leading U.S.-based developer and manufacturer of battery cells technology, announced this Tuesday that it has selected Maricopa County, Arizona, to be the home of its lithium-ion manufacturing plant.
Firstly, the plant, called KOREplex will be the first battery manufacturing plant in the U.S., wholly owned and operated by an American company. The plant will produce up to 12 gigawatt hours (GWh) of battery cells; aimed at supporting a reliable and independent U.S. supply chain.
Secondly, the facility will have the capacity to produce enough power for 3.2 million homes each year. KORE plans to start construction of the facility by the end of 2021; with the goal of beginning commercial operations in 2Q, 2023.
Thirdly, this new facility will add to the company’s current annual production capacity of 2 GWh; currently in the process of scaling up to 6 GWh to serve the rapidly growing battery market. As batteries have become key components for decarbonization, also, grid stability and electric cars.
Moreover, the facility will create a substantial number of jobs for Arizona residents; nearly 3,000 new advanced manufacturing jobs; all of which will be full-time employees at the facility; however, the project as a whole will generate upwards of an estimated 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.
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KORE Power ‘s plant to run on green electricity
In addition, the construction itself of the KOREPlex facility will employ an estimated 3,400 workers during peak construction; which will take about 18 months.
On the other hand, the facility will run on clean power and net-zero carbon emissions; all, through strategic partnerships and solar-plus- and also storage co-generation. About the relevance of the site for the company, Lindsay Gorrill, KORE Power CEO, said. “We needed a location for our factory that had a track record of supporting energy storage; also, a growing clean transportation sector; and also, a workforce that could deliver American-made battery technology that the supply chain so desperately needs. We found that in Arizona.”
On his side, state Governor, Doug Ducey, also said. “Arizona is thrilled to be selected as the home of the country’s first U.S.-owned lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility. Not only will this facility create thousands of new jobs, it will position Arizona as an anchor in the global battery manufacturing supply chain.”
Finally, Buckeye Mayor Eric Orsborn, said. “This project is not just a win for Buckeye, but for the West Valley, the State of Arizona and the clean energy industry.”
