A virtual meeting of The European Battery Alliance (EBA) has said its ambitions in terms of jobs and growth in a green and circular economy can be reached earlier than expected despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twelve CEOs from European companies across the battery chain met to discuss the role of the EBA in the EU’s post corona green recovery.
Launched in 2017 by the European Commission, the EBA aims to create a competitive and sustainable cell manufacturing chain in Europe.
An accelerated EBA initiative could front-load a million new jobs and €200 billion ($219 billion) of new business for Europe up to 2023, starting next month, said Diego Pavia, CEO at EIT InnoEnergy.
The meeting— organised by EIT InnoEnergy, and chaired by commission vice-president Maroš Šefčovič— heard the ambitions in terms of jobs and growth in a green and circular economy could be reached earlier than the initial 2025 target.
But for this to happen, several elements need to fall into place, the meeting heard:
- Lithium mining. Initiatives are underway in eight EU member states in a bid to make Europe 80% self-sufficient by 2025. However, this requires a speed up of the permitting processes, to mature the innovations in this field (conversion of raw material) and the financing for nascent raw material industries.
- Value chain. A number of domestic battery cell manufacturing facilities across Europe are underway but the continent will need to further mobilise its machinery industry, increasing resilience for the future.
- Lithium-ion battery recycling technologies are nearly optimal. The key industrial players are thus getting closer to securing a true circular economy in the battery industry. This not only increases Europe’s resilience but also greatly contributes to the Green Deal.
- Industrial policy instruments like the soon-to-be-released Batteries Regulation need to be “fit for purpose” and pave the way for high levels of environmental and sustainable requirements for any battery produced or sold in Europe, in line with the capabilities of the European industry.
Prior to the COVID-19 crisis, the European battery industry was gaining momentum. Since the launch of EBA, Europe has seen several lithium mining and processing investments initiated, recycling industrial pilots have been launched while OEMs have developed a portfolio of electric vehicles.