April 13, 2023
Securing a gigafactory: a real challenge!
People have been talking about them for a few months now, and they’re making headlines in the media…
But actually… what is a gigafactory?
It’s defined as a massive factory designed to produce large quantities of lithium-ion batteries, which are often used to power electric vehicles. The term “gigafactory” was popularized by Tesla, which built a large-scale factory to produce batteries for its electric cars.
In France, they are mainly located in the Hauts-de-France region; they will soon account for 3% of industrial jobs—10% if we include companies working indirectly within this ecosystem—representing more than 20,000 jobs.
Securing a gigafactory: a real challenge!
Axima Fire Safety is currently providing fire protection for the Envision site.
It will take nearly 30,000 SPK to protect the 270,000 m² of the building’s total floor area, with the project scheduled to take 18 months, including gas fire suppression and fire cannons. The final building will cover an area of 350 m by 300, the size of an elongated Eiffel Tower!
Comment se décomposent ces formations en sécurité incendie pour les assureurs ?
Our client Envision AESC, also a specialist in wind energy, operates 4 factories worldwide and has already equipped more than 600,000 vehicles with its batteries. By 2030, it will contribute to the emergence of a European industry to meet the inevitable growth of the market for electric vehicles. The future production plant adjacent to the Renault site in Douai will produce 30 to 40 GWh of batteries per year for a total investment of 2 billion euros.
Why protect battery factories?
A lithium cell fire is based on the principle of thermal runaway, which will occur inside the cell. This reaction will lead to a significant release of flammable gases inside the battery in question, and these gases will be vented either through a vent provided for this purpose, or through the explosion of the battery casing. The metals then melt and burn, making this fire particularly difficult to extinguish.
The teams at Axima Fire Safety possess specialized expertise in special hazards and have a dedicated team of experts to assist our clients with these specific challenges.
