ACC renews its partnership with Equans for the second production block of its gigafactory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin

28 March 2024 - On Thursday 28 March, Yann Vincent, CEO of ACC - Automotive Cells Company, and Pierre Hardouin, CEO of Equans France, formalised a new contract strengthening their partnership in the service of electric mobility at ACC's battery plant in Billy-Berclau / Douvrin. Following the success of its first production block with an annual production capacity of 13 GWh, inaugurated in May 2023, ACC is currently piloting the construction of a new unit to double its production capacity by 2026. The Equans France teams, who are already leading the consortium in charge of the anhydrous rooms with IAQ for the first block, are fully mobilised to meet this new challenge and design a high-performance, safe and energy-efficient industrial environment. 
 

Equans France was responsible for building the clean and anhydrous rooms (HVAC and electrical engineering, ventilation and pipework) for the first production block at the ACC plant in Billy-Berclau / Douvrin, as well as the terminal distribution of the fluids required for its equipment. On this first unit, Equans also took advantage of the work carried out on a patent filed to control the treatment of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) vapours, an organic solvent used in the production of lithium-ion battery cathodes. This innovative solution covers the integration, design, production and commissioning of these advanced technologies. Typical of gigafactories, this industrial process involves recovering and recycling these substances in order to reduce the environmental impact and optimise the energy performance of production. 

Equans will also continue to connect process equipment to the various extraction networks. Known as hook-up exhaust, this expertise is essential to ensure the protection of people and the quality of the end product. In practical terms, it ensures the removal and treatment of heat, dust and solvents generated at each stage of battery manufacture, from the mixing phase of the pastes applied to the cathode and anode strips, through to coating, calendering, notching, stacking and battery assembly.

Sensitive to all forms of water in the air, batteries and all their components require perfectly sealed and controlled work areas, also known as anhydrous rooms, to guarantee the integrity of the atmosphere. Hygrometry and temperature must therefore be controlled down to the last degree using homogeneous air sweeping systems. Equans' experts will once again be tackling this challenge, taking into account the thermal load of the plant's installations and the human density of the enclosure. Perfect mastery of the buildings' HVAC technical packages completes these advanced systems. A tailor-made approach is therefore required to ensure the conformity of the industrial process and its operational availability, while optimising energy consumption through innovative design. 

"The production of electric batteries is a daily industrial challenge that ACC is meeting with the support and reliability of its partners. This long-term trust is the foundation of an industry of the future, which is essential to guarantee the sovereignty and sustainability of clean mobility, thanks to a presence across the entire value chain, in conjunction with carmakers," stresses Yann Vincent, CEO of ACC.

"At a time when the energy transition is at the heart of sustainable mobility, the Equans teams are proud to be taking real action to accelerate the decarbonisation of our model. The production of batteries made in France is the fruit of a wealth of expertise to which we are happy to contribute by drawing on our international experience. Innovation and the development of cutting-edge technologies are at the heart of our DNA," concludes Pierre Hardouin, CEO of Equans France.
 

About ACC
Founded in 2020, ACC (Automotive Cells Company) is a fast-growing high-tech company operating in the world of battery technology for electric vehicles. Its first Gigafactory was inaugurated in Billy-Berclau / Douvrin (France) just two and a half years after the company was founded. ACC is a joint venture between Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and TotalEnergies, through its subsidiary Saft, the originator of the technology used by ACC. This unique initiative is supported by France, Germany, Italy and the European Union. With an R&D centre operational since 2020 in Bruges, near Bordeaux, and a state-of-the-art industrial centre of excellence in Nersac, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, ACC is taking the automotive industry into the electrification era. Since its launch, ACC has grown to more than 1,500 people and now employs more than 40 different nationalities at its sites in France, Germany and Italy.
 

About the Group and Equans France 
Rooted in more than a century of history, the Equans Group, a subsidiary of the Bouygues Group, is the new world leader in the energy and services sector. In France, thanks in particular to Ineo, Axima and Bouygues Energies & Services, it has a high territorial density synonymous with proximity. Its 35,000 employees in France support their customers in improving and optimising their equipment, systems and technical processes in order to meet the challenges of a triple transition: energy, industry and digital. Equans mobilises a high level of expertise and technology, with the ambition of making a significant contribution to a low-carbon and resilient world. Electrical engineering, climate control, refrigeration, fire safety, facility management, IT and telecommunications, digital solutions: Equans' complementary expertise is deployed in France through a unique combination of multi-technical skills for design, construction and installation projects as well as for operation and maintenance services. 
Established in 20 countries, with 90,000 employees working on 5 continents and annual sales in 2023 of 18.8 billion euros, the Equans group connects, produces, supplies and protects energy and data for territories, towns, buildings, factories and infrastructures every day.  Its subsidiary Equans France is part of the same dynamic, with sales of 7.1 billion euros in 2023 and operations in nearly 30 different countries. 
www.equans.fr | www.equans.com