We would to thank everyone who joined us at our Somerset events in Puriton and Woolavington over the last week. Your feedback is important to us and we appreciate you taking the time to come along to chat to us.  

At the events we discussed our latest plans for building one and the proposed ring road. Display boards were presented with the details, which you can find here.

If you’d like to provide feedback on our latest plans, please complete this form.

As always, if you have any questions please contact us on communityuk@agratas.net  

Further to information shared by Somerset Council, we are writing to provide more details on the phased closures of Woolavington Road that are scheduled to start on Monday 14 April 2025.

This vital work will connect the Gravity and Agratas sites to various utilities, including electricity and gas. This requires the phased closure of sections of Woolavington Road between the Enterprise Way roundabout and Woolavington Village.

These closures will start from Monday 14 April and last for up to 5 months in total. Please be assured that all residents and businesses on Woolavington Road will be able to access their properties throughout these closures. General traffic will need to follow the diversion via Puriton Hill and Bath Road to travel between Puriton and Woolavington.

The phased closures will begin with the areas marked in Yellow (Section 5) and Green (Section 3) on the plan picture.

Once these sections are completed, the works will move over to the areas marked in Blue (Section 2) and Red (Section 4), which will then be followed by the final areas marked in Orange (Section 0) and Purple (Section 1). Once these phases are completed, the contractors will set up more limited traffic management to carry out finishing work, including cable pulling.

These first phases are expected to last for up to 12 weeks and will be carried out by M & A Doocey Civil Engineering Limited on behalf of National Grid Electricity Distribution. *If you have questions during these phases please contact Kez Braham on 0121 520 9874.

Further phases will be carried out by Wales and West Utilities. We will write again to notify you of the expected dates and locations of the next phases of the closures in due course.

We appreciate that these necessary works will cause some disruption, and we thank you for your patience as we prepare for main construction on the Gravity and Agratas sites.

If you have any questions or concerns about these closures and the project overall please email the team via communityuk@agratas.net

We’re committed to keeping our communities at the heart of what we do. We understand how important our project is to the Somerset region, especially to Puriton and Woolavington. That’s why we’re launching a series of community consultation events, to showcase our latest proposals and hear your feedback.

Our proposals include:

• Amendments to Building One in response to fast moving technology
• Phase One of the Ring Road to serve both Building One and the
  NGET facilities

We’re also pleased to welcome National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET), who will be on hand to discuss plans for their proposed substation, which will power the Agratas facility, as well as wider
parts of the Gravity Smart Campus.
Event dates:
1st April Woolavington Village Hall 17:00–19:00
2nd April Puriton Primary School 17:00–19:00
5th April Puriton Primary School 12:00–14:00

Come along to view our proposals, see what we have been doing on site and get an update on jobs and training. This forms part of the formal engagement process for two new LDO Compliance Applications relating to our proposals. Please join us to enjoy a cup of tea and a slice of cake from Somerset Larder.

Two hundred local engineers, mechanics, plumbers and electricians met with Agratas and its partners this week for the battery business’ second successful Supplier Engagement Day.

Agratas hosted the event in partnership with its contractor Sir Robert McAlpine and MEP Partners NG Bailey and T Clarke, which it is working with to deliver its multi-billion-pound battery manufacturing facility near Bridgwater. 

Representatives from local businesses based in Somerset attended the event to find out about opportunities to work on the construction of the battery manufacturing facility.

The day began with a series of presentations from the hosts, who shared details of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing services that will be required for the buildings.

Attendees then took part in in-depth breakout sessions with NG Bailey and T Clarke. The sessions offered a valuable opportunity for local businesses to network with others in the sector, discuss potential partnerships, and to find out more about opportunities to work with the partners and with Agratas to help develop the facility over the course of the project. s

Representatives from the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, Somerset Chamber of Commerce, and Somerset Council, who are working closely with Agratas to develop the facility, were also present at the event.

Jefferson Weber, Head of UK Construction at Agratas, commented: “Our second supplier engagement day was a great success, and it was fantastic to speak to so many local Somerset businesses who will play a vital role in helping us build this nationally significant facility. We hope to work with many of the people we met today over the coming months and years as we continue to bring our vision to life.”

Agratas’ facility will design, develop and manufacture high-quality, high-performance, sustainable electric batteries once operational.

It is set to be the biggest battery facility in the country and by the early 2030s will contribute almost half of the projected battery manufacturing capacity required for the UK automotive sector.

The facility itself will create up to 4,000 new jobs in the area, with many thousands more expected to be created in the UK supply chain.

Agratas and the Faraday Institution have signed a multi-year agreement to partner on talent development for the UK battery sector. As part of that commitment, Agratas, the Tata Group’s global battery company, has funded a pilot of three PhD studentships, with the PhD researchers embedded in Faraday Institution projects.

Demand for highly skilled workers to deliver ambitions for a fully electric future has never been more pressing. With shared goals to further the UK battery sector, this partnership brings together industrial ambition and need for talent, with the Institution’s expertise in developing researcher talent for the sector.

Professor Martin Freer, CEO, the Faraday Institution comments: “The next generation of battery technologies will be developed by the next generation of battery researchers. This partnership’s commitment to talent development comes at a key time for the UK battery sector as we look to build on the nation’s distinct advantage in battery R&D as it competes in the global race to attract investment in battery manufacturing and innovation.”

Dr Valentina Gentili, Vice President of Global Research and Development, Cell Technology at Agratas, commented: “Agratas’s purpose is to pioneer power for future generations by fostering talent and driving innovation in next-generation battery technologies. We are so excited to be part of the vibrant UK ecosystem, collaborating with our partners the Faraday Institution and world leading academics, to shape a sustainable electric future for the UK.”

Matt Howard, Chief Strategy Officer, the Faraday Institution continues: “This partnership, which links our talent development initiatives with our mission driven research programmes, demonstrates the value of the Faraday Institution’s model. We look forward to deepening our relationship with Agratas, and hope that this will open the way for similar training initiatives with other UK-based industry organisations as we collectively continue to build a strong battery ecosystem.”

Since its inception, the Faraday Institution has delivered a bespoke PhD training programme, which equips doctoral researchers for careers in academia, industry or policy in the battery sector. PhDs emerging from the programme have deep subject area expertise, myriad of soft skills, and broad knowledge of the industry ecosystem in which they will work.

The PhD researchers being funded by Agratas are three of a cohort of 16 that commenced the Faraday Institution PhD Enrichment Scheme in October 2024. They join 85 PhD researchers who are currently undergoing or have completed the PhD training programme, with 100 more PhDs affiliated with Faraday Institution projects. The three, four-year studentships will include industrial internships at Agratas.

The three PhD studentships funded by Agratas are:

• Becky Larner, University of Oxford, is working with Professor Patrick Grant and Dr Guillaume Matthews on advanced manufacturing (as part of the Nextrode project).
• Chris Smith, University of Cambridge, is working with Professor Dame Clare Grey and Professor Michael De Volder on battery degradation.
• Tihana Štefanić, University of Oxford, is working with Professor David Howey and Professor Charles Monroe on the Multi-scale Modelling project.

Becky Larner comments: “I obtained an MSci in Chemistry from Cambridge University where I researched sodium-ion batteries with the Grey group. Now I am a first year DPhil student researching electrodes for sustainable lithium-ion batteries at the University of Oxford, supervised by Professor Patrick Grant.

“I was attracted to this project because I find energy storage technology really interesting and want to help make it more sustainable.”

Chris Smith comments: “I am currently a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, having previously graduated with a BEng in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Sheffield and an MSc from Imperial. Prior to starting my PhD, I worked as a Materials Research Engineer in developing polymeric materials for flexible screens and electronics. This gave me practical experience with the challenges related to industry research and developing the back-end application. However, this did not satisfy my aspiration to positively contribute to the environment and the transition towards a more sustainable future.

“Battery research ties together my fascination with fundamental materials chemistry whilst aligning with my environmental consciousness. Being co-supervised by Clare Grey and Michael de Volder is truly brilliant, they are both at the top of their field and I cannot wait to produce meaningful research with them. I am delighted to be collaborating with Agratas as this facilitates academia and industry working together striving for a better future, whilst simultaneously giving my research real-world impact.”

Tihana Štefanić comments: “After receiving my degree in chemical physics, I was inspired to pursue research into battery modelling at Oxford University to continue my interdisciplinary interests in physics, chemistry, and energy engineering. Having spent a year working in industry, I was excited by the prospect of a project with industry ties and am honoured to be among the first PhD students to be sponsored by a world-class industry partner such as Agratas.

“Additionally, being part of the Faraday Institution’s training programme has made the first few weeks an overwhelmingly positive experience. I am looking forward to developing safer battery technology in my DPhil and hope to continue working on sustainable energy solutions in my future career. My project is based in the Monroe and Howey research groups.”

Agratas, a pioneering company in advanced battery technology, has confirmed the acquisition of its new R&D facility at Milton Park, Oxford. The state-of-the-art site will serve as the company’s UK technology hub, further strengthening its global innovation ecosystem spanning the UK, India, and the US.  

The 22,857 sq ft (2,123 sq m) facility spans three floors and includes newly built office and laboratory spaces. Situated in Oxfordshire’s thriving innovation economy, Milton Park is home to over 250 dynamic businesses employing 9,000 people across life sciences, energy, and advanced technologies. 

Patrick Hurley, CTO of Agratas, said: “Our new facility at Milton Park, Oxford, is the foundation of our global innovation ecosystem, enabling us to accelerate R&D in battery technologies. This site demonstrates our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-performance products for our customers. It also underlines the vital role of R&D in shaping Agratas’ future as a global leader in advanced battery solutions.”

This milestone represents a major step forward in Agratas’ technology strategy, creating a global ecosystem where scientists and engineers can develop cutting-edge battery solutions to address the evolving needs of customers and drive the energy transition forward. The Agratas team will use the facility to pioneer new chemistries and technologies for multiple applications, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of the rapidly changing technology landscape. 

As part of its commitment to sustainable innovation, Agratas is making significant investments in the UK and beyond. The Oxford R&D facility highlights Agratas’ long-term ambition to strengthen the UK’s role in global battery innovation, contribute to the green technology talent pipeline, and enhance collaboration with various renowned institutions nationwide.  

Tony Harper, Industrial Strategy Challenge Director at the Faraday Battery Challenge, said: “Battery innovation and development continues apace in the UK. The Faraday Battery Challenge is pleased to see Agratas showing continued confidence in the UK battery sector with this new R&D facility. It comes at a critical juncture in our drive to create a thriving battery innovation ecosystem.”

Agratas’ investments in R&D will contribute to high-skilled job creation, attracting global talent and expanding the UK’s position as a leader in green technology innovation. By securing an existing, purpose-built site that was previously equipped but never utilised, Agratas has made a strategic and cost-effective investment, ensuring resources are used wisely to accelerate its strategic objectives. 

Dr Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair at Innovate UK, said: “This is welcome news for the UK battery sector, coming just over a year after the Agratas decision to invest £4 billion in creating a UK-based gigafactory.  This new R&D facility will further strengthen the UK at the forefront of battery cell development, building on the work of the Faraday Battery Challenge.”

This new facility aligns with Agratas’ mission to pioneer clean, green, and sustainable battery solutions, demonstrating the company’s dedication to innovation, collaboration, and excellence on a global scale.