Morning, Tuesday, 8th December 2026
Online
This conference will examine next steps for policy, regulation and innovation in the UK battery sector.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to discuss priorities in the context of the DRIVE35 programme, recommendations from the UK Gigafactory Commission’s Britain’s Battery Future January 2026 report, and the recent announcement of a £380m government grant to support the development of the Agratas gigafactory. Areas for discussion include approaches for scaling domestic battery manufacturing, the relationship between the battery sector and the future for UK zero-emission vehicle production, and the development of wider applications in sectors such as defence, aerospace, maritime and rail.
Manufacturing infrastructure & competitiveness
Delegates will assess practical requirements for the development of gigafactories and related manufacturing investment, including access to appropriately prepared sites, electricity, water and transport infrastructure, planning and permitting, and coordination between government, investors, manufacturers and local delivery partners.
The planned agenda will consider the competitiveness of UK energy costs and the extension of Climate Change Agreement eligibility to automotive-grade battery-cell production from January 2027, alongside the interaction of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate - with Government expected to launch a consultation this month - with consumer demand and investor confidence.
Research, skills, materials & recycling
Further sessions will consider priorities for research, innovation and industrial scale-up, including coordination between academic research, business-led development and manufacturing demonstration, support for next-generation chemistries, access to public and private finance, and the provision of apprenticeships, curriculum development and specialist training.
Following publication of the Vision 2035: Critical Minerals Strategy in November 2025, delegates will examine requirements for developing domestic cathode and anode-material capacity, critical-mineral extraction and processing, and resilient international supply arrangements. Consideration will also be given to battery reuse and recycling, black-mass processing and material recovery, in relation to the anticipated Circular Economy Growth Plan for England.
Overview of areas for discussion
- industrial strategy, sector growth and market development:
- implementation of the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan - role in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy - early insights from the Battery Innovation Programme
- domestic battery manufacturing - implications for UK zero-emission vehicle manufacturing and wider industry resilience - DRIVE35
- response to the Gigafactory Commission report Britain’s Battery Future - government coordination, accountability of implementation and measures of progress
- gigafactory delivery and project execution:
- progress on the Agratas facility - construction, infrastructure readiness, implementation timetables and implications for Jaguar Land Rover supply
- attracting global battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs - incentives, investor confidence and the competitiveness of the UK offer
- availability of manufacturing-ready sites - next generation of UK gigafactory projects
- manufacturing competitiveness, energy costs and investment:
- competitiveness of UK industrial electricity prices - extension of Climate Change Agreements to electric-vehicle battery production
- role of grants, the National Wealth Fund and private finance in supporting gigafactories, supply chains and scale-ups
- automotive demand, regulation and trade:
- UK-EU rules of origin from 2027 - battery-content thresholds, tariff exposure and requirements for domestic cell and active-material production
- options for UK-EU engagement where domestic and European supply-chain capacity remains limited
- interaction between the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, consumer demand and investment - pressures facing vehicle manufacturers
- battery materials, components and supply-chain resilience:
- domestic cathode and anode active-material manufacturing - dependence on overseas supply - Vision 2035: Critical Minerals Strategy
- scaling UK lithium and other battery-material projects - commercial viability, planning, infrastructure and access to finance
- innovation, commercialisation and scale-up:
- scaling next-generation chemistries, including solid-state and lithium-sulphur - manufacturability, cost reduction and routes to market
- Battery Innovation Programme and DRIVE35 funding - support for start-ups, scale-ups and private investment
- circularity, recycling and resource efficiency:
- domestic black-mass processing, advanced recovery and battery-material recycling - battery reuse, collection and traceability
- alignment between circularity, rules-of-origin requirements and security of material supply
- skills and manufacturing capability:
- workforce requirements - sector-specific apprenticeships - workers transitioning from established automotive and manufacturing roles
- regional skills provision and employer-led training - curriculum reform and specialist technical training
- wider applications and resilience:
- development of UK-made batteries for defence, drones, aerospace, maritime, rail and heavy transport - dual-use technologies and procurement pathways
