Projects supported by Europe

AGATHE Project

An Advanced Gigafactory to Reduce CO₂ Emissions

AGATHE (Advanced Gigafactory Aiming at Tempering greenhouse gases Emissions) is a strategic project led by Verkor, selected by the European Commission under the Innovation Fund.

Its ambition: accelerate battery production for electric vehicles while drastically reducing the carbon footprint of the transport sector.

What is the AGATHE Project?

AGATHE aims to double the production capacity of Verkor’s gigafactory in Dunkerque, increasing from 8 to 16 GWh of NMC battery cells – a high-efficiency lithium-ion technology composed of nickel, manganese, and cobalt.

This expansion relies on advanced, digitalized, and sustainable manufacturing technologies, with two major goals:

Increase battery production for electric vehicles (EVs)
Reduce the carbon footprint of transportation, with an expected 71.5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in Europe.

Key Innovations

Smart digital infrastructure: AI-driven process optimization, predictive maintenance, and improved energy performance.
On-site pre-recycling facility: processing over 95% of production scrap, reducing waste and minimizing the transport of hazardous battery materials.
Circular economy and European resilience: diversifying raw material sources, reducing dependency on external suppliers, and promoting localized recycling.

Aligned with European Ambitions

AGATHE supports major EU industrial and climate policies:

European Green Deal
Critical Raw Materials Act
Battery Regulation

By fostering recycling and circular approaches, AGATHE contributes to a more resilient and competitive industry.

Economic and Social Impact

500+ skilled jobs created in Dunkerque, with up to 85% local workforce
Opportunities for future expansion in France and beyond
Community engagement initiatives to ensure a positive local impact

Find out more

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.