Work begins on the electric vehicle battery gigafactory in Aragon
Construction has begun on the new plant of Contemporary Star Energy, a joint venture between CATL and Stellantis located in Figueruelas (Zaragoza), marking a new phase in the project. The first foundation was poured on January 20. This milestone comes just two months after the groundbreaking ceremony on November 26, which officially marked the beginning of this ambitious industrial project.
The scale of the project itself is impressive. The electric vehicle battery gigafactory will have a main building that is approximately one kilometer long, which is an unusual size for this type of industrial facility. The plant will have a production capacity of 50 GWh per year and is expected to contribute significantly to the creation of skilled jobs and the economic development of the surrounding area. With an investment of close to €4.1 billion, the plant will be dedicated to the manufacture of state-of-the-art automotive batteries that incorporate advanced technology aimed at improving the efficiency, safety, and durability of energy storage systems. The facility is also expected to contribute significantly to job creation and economic development in the surrounding area.
IDOM has developed the complete basic and detailed engineering, as well as preparing the documentation and managing the permits, in a project that stands out for its technical complexity and high level of specialization. One of the main challenges has been the design of the clean rooms, a critical element in battery manufacturing processes.
In this area, the design of the HVAC systems has been particularly decisive. The strict conditions required for temperature, humidity, filtration, and pressure control demand solutions that are highly accurate, reliable, and consistent with the production process. The integration of these systems from the initial design stages has been key to ensuring operational stability and the quality of the final product, reinforcing IDOM’s position in high-tech industrial projects.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by representatives from CATL and Stellantis, as well as prominent institutional authorities, including the Minister of Industry, Jordi Hereu, the President of the Government of Aragon, Jorge Azcón, and the Chinese Ambassador to Spain.
Eva Sanromán from the Zaragoza office represented IDOM. She led the permit application process and served as deputy project manager alongside Francisco Javier Cisneros, the project manager. During the ceremony, the strategic importance of the plant in promoting sustainable mobility and strengthening the electric vehicle value chain was emphasized.
Although the project was mainly led from the Bilbao and Madrid offices, IDOM’s collaborative approach brought together the knowledge and capabilities of teams in Zaragoza, Barcelona, India, and Colombia to provide a joint response to a major industrial challenge, making the project’s development possible.
With construction underway, the electric vehicle battery gigafactory is solidifying its position as a benchmark project for IDOM in terms of scale, complexity, and technical requirements. This project reinforces IDOM’s role in designing industrial infrastructures that are driving the energy transition and the future of the automotive industry.
