To support electrification, Europe must bolster its battery cell manufacturing capabilities, with a combined production capacity of up to 886 GWh/year expected by 2030. This requires investment in materials development, digitalization, and applications engineering. Europe aims to reduce its dependence on raw materials, improve resource efficiency, and establish a more resilient supply chain, with a focus on circularity and sustainability. Lowering costs and enhancing sustainability in raw material processing are also essential to remain globally competitive.
The rapid growth of the battery industry highlights the need for a skilled workforce. Collaboration between industry, academia, and training providers is crucial to address the shortage of sector-specific skills and education.
A cutting-edge innovation ecosystem
To compete globally, Europe must establish a cutting-edge innovation ecosystem for batteries by 2030. This ecosystem should focus on research and development across the entire battery value chain, with support from relevant stakeholders, including European, national, and regional research and innovation agencies. Continuous investments in battery research are needed to enhance sustainability, reduce costs, and improve performance.
Batteries Europe roadmap
Batteries Europe was launched as a European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP),
established with support of the European Commission in 2019. It plays a key role in accelerating the growth of a globally competitive and sustainable battery value chain in Europe.
The Batteries Europe R&I Roadmap is a document designed with the objective to
support strategic planning of research and innovation by identifying and elaborating the short-, mid-, and long-term needs for supporting the establishment and development of a European battery ecosystem across the whole value chain. It focusses on six segments and the transversal challenges they face:
1. New and Emerging Technologies: Research is needed on various promising battery technologies, including advanced redox flow batteries, metal-air batteries, metal-sulfur batteries, and more. Sustainability and intelligent material selection are critical considerations.
2. Raw Materials and Recycling: Europe aims to reduce raw material dependency and improve the sustainability of the supply chain. Research areas include logistics, pretreatments of End of Life batteries, and sustainability assessment tools.
3. Advanced Materials: This segment focuses on existing cell chemistries with medium to high maturity levels. Research areas include Li-ion, Na-ion, and vanadium redox flow batteries, with a focus on sustainability, safety, and digitalisation.
4. Cell Design and Manufacturing: Research is needed to support large-scale battery production in Europe. Areas of focus include sustainability of production, flexibility of future battery factories, and process and product scaling. Digital twins play a significant role in this segment.
5. Application and Integration (Mobile): This section highlights the research needs to facilitate electrification in various modes of transport. Research areas include performance improvements, safety, and fast charging.
6. Application and Integration (Stationary Storage): This segment covers different applications of stationary storage, both behind and in front of the meter. Research is needed for medium-to-long duration batteries, digitalization, sustainability, and safety.
A guide towards a sustainable future of transport
In conclusion, the Batteries Europe roadmap outlines specific strategic research areas and transversal challenges across the entire battery value chain. These priorities are intended to guide research programs, both in the public and industry sectors, and support strategic planning in the battery research sector. Ongoing collaboration and investment are essential to realize a cleaner, more sustainable, and economically viable battery industry in Europe, contributing to lower carbon emissions and sustainable employment opportunities.
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