BMW Battery Factory Irlbach: Batteries on Prime Farmland

The BMW Group has clarified its plans for large-scale battery production in Lower Bavarian Irlbach-Straßkirchen during an informational event attended by Bavarian Minister of Economic Affairs Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters). According to a report in the Süddeutsche Zeitung, this location is the only option due to its proximity to the Dingolfing, Regensburg, and Munich plants, as well as its connection to the A3 and A92 highways. The capacities of the other plants are not available because they are still producing combustion vehicles and engines, which make up two-thirds of the business. A multi-story construction is also not feasible because the parts are presumably too heavy. Former Bundeswehr (German armed forces) locations are also not an option as they are too uneven.

The plant is expected to create 1,000 jobs, 500 of which will come from other plants and 500 from the region. The cells will reportedly be supplied from the battery cell factory of the partner in Hungary - likely the Chinese specialist CATL - and finally packaged in Irlbach-Straßkirchen. Construction is set to begin as early as 2024, with production starting in 2027. To minimize environmental impacts, the company plans to initially develop only 60 of the 105 hectares, with further expansion depending on market development. The energy for production will come from photovoltaics, and potentially a wind turbine might be used as well. Additionally, the company plans to limit commuter traffic with shuttle buses and carpooling. The goal is to create the "most sustainable plant" in the entire group, using a lot of wood and tree planting. However, there is also talk of 300 trucks supplying the plant daily, which Minister Aiwanger wants to discuss further.

The soil in the region is considered one of the most fertile in Germany, with a soil value of 78. As compensation for sealing the land, 20 hectares will be returned to nature, although 13 hectares of this will be arable land.