Britishvolt said June 1 it has selected equipment and connectivity partner Sunbelt Rentals to support the project, “as well as developing heavy plant and equipment battery solutions.”

As part of the long-term strategic partnership, the two companies will run an on-site rental facility at the gigafactory.

Britishvolt Head of ESG Craig Woodburn told S&P Global Commodity Insights, “The benefits of accommodating a rental facility on our site to help fulfill our needs for equipment mean a lower carbon footprint in travelling to and from rental facilities,” while one central supplier would help create efficiencies in equipment provision.

“It’s a massive win for our ESG strategy that Britishvolt and Sunbelt will operate an ‘onsite rental facility,’ it also brings ‘economies of carbon’ as it will significantly reduce the construction supply chain carbon footprint,” Britishvolt’s chief governance officer Tom Cowling said in a statement.

The companies will also work together to create heavy industry and equipment battery cell solutions to aid in the decarbonisation of the construction and equipment rental industries, Britishvolt said.

Prices of battery metals, especially lithium, have been strong so far this year, with the Platts seaborne lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide assessments from S&P Global up 122% and 146% respectively since the year started, at $75,000/mt CIF North Asia and $78,000/mt CIF North Asia on May 31.

“The market increasingly needs alternative powered equipment to help support our diverse customer base across multiple areas,” Sunbelt Rentals Chief Executive Andy Wright said, adding that the partnership would enable it to meet that demand in the future.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Sunbelt Rentals to support the future of green energy... This is more than just a commercial collaboration, it's an opportunity for us to support an important part of the future of renewable energy in the UK,” added Wright.

One banking source told S&P Global they had understood that Sunbelt parent Ashtead had invested in Britishvolt on similar terms to those described as being offered by Glencore, but Britishvolt was unable to confirm.

In August 2021, Glencore and Britishvolt entered into a strategic agreement on the long-term supply of cobalt, with the former also investing an undisclosed amount in the battery maker for a stake.

Britishvolt began work on its GBP3.8 billion lithium-ion battery gigafactory last September. Targeting the start of production for Phase One in 2024, the site will be delivered in four phases of approximately 10 GWh.

It also intends to establish another 60 GWh gigafactory in Quebec and is negotiating with the Canadian government about its expansion plans.

In early May, Britishvolt signed a deal to buy EAS, a developer and manufacturer of advanced technology battery cells from the Monbat Group, for EUR 36 million ($38.6 million), financed via a cash and share issuance, making the Monbat Group an investor in Britishvolt.