Telefónica and Siemens digitalise Basquevolt´s solid-state battery cell prototyping plant

Telefónica and Siemens digitalise Basquevolt´s solid-state battery cell prototyping plant

• Basquevolt will evaluate various digitalisation processes related to the production of solid-state lithium batteries, providing the plant with the best technological solutions.
• Telefónica and Siemens will provide corporate (IT) and operational (OT) connectivity to Basquevolt´s new battery prototype plant.
• This is a pioneering project in Europe in the manufacture of solid-state lithium battery cells, unique in Europe in terms of technology.
• Cybersecurity throughout the industrial process is one of the keys to this strategic project, which is key to progress in electric mobility.

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain 2 November 2023.- Telefónica and Siemens have joined forces with Basquevolt, a Spanish company that is a pioneer in the manufacture of solid-state battery cells. The aim of the project is to set up a prototyping line integrating various digitalisation processes.

In this strategic project, Basquevolt will rely on Telefónica´s advanced services to provide the transversality required by this prototype-scale manufacturing plant, both in terms of connectivity and equipment, and in terms of professional services and cybersecurity in the IT and OT fields.

This prototyping line will have a robust industrial connectivity network perfectly adjusted to all the communication requirements of the machines both in the production process (LAN OT) and the plant´s operational systems, complying with industrial standards ISA/IEC 62443 and ANSI/ISA-95, using Siemens communication equipment from the Scalance family.

Telefónica and Siemens´ industrial sector specialists and Basquevolt´s technical engineering and modelling team have been working for months on a solution that will host the critical systems that operate Basquevolt´s manufacturing processes reliably and ensure cell production.

Likewise, the adoption of cybersecurity measures in the industrial sphere has been a fundamental point in the design of the plant´s digitalisation solutions. In this regard, through Telefónica Tech, a series of solutions have been implemented to protect the industrial perimeter, segment and restrict unwanted traffic, as well as to detect and respond to threats that may affect the Basque company´s end devices.

The first results of this strategic project are expected in the first four months of 2024.

 

Industry in transformation

Francisco Carranza, CEO of Basquevolt, highlights: "The cutting-edge battery technology that will be developed in this prototype plant requires an extremely robust IT/OT network that enables the control and management of devices, processes and infrastructure, ensuring continuous improvement in productivity, quality, efficiency and flexibility of our manufacturing operations".

Adrián García Nevado, Director of B2B at Telefónica Spain, says: "This alliance with Basquevolt means for Telefónica to develop its digitalisation strategy of pioneering projects and is part of its policy of supporting companies in their transformation processes as a technological partner of reference". Thanks to the agreement with Basquevolt, Telefónica, through its various solutions, is positioned in a key sector such as solid-state lithium batteries, with a long history in the field of industry and sustainability.

José Ramón Castro, General Manager of Siemens Digital Industries for Spain and Portugal, emphasises: "Siemens is committed to a cybersecure digital transformation of Spanish industry. Our goal is to guarantee the maximum robustness of facilities and communications networks to minimise the impact of any possible cyber-attack”.