A study has been launched to inform potential new regulations stipulating the ‘green’ characteristics of batteries to be produced in the EU, BEST Battery Briefing can reveal.
EU energy chief Maroš Šefčovič wants only batteries with “truly green” credentials and the “highest environmental standards” to be produced by the bloc’s ambitious Batteries Alliance, which Šefčovič says will incorporate a cell manufacturing industry to compete with Asia.
Now BBB has learned EU chiefs have commissioned a feasibility study “on possible requirements” for batteries to be produced by the Alliance— a pet project of Šefčovič, who is a candidate to succeed Jean-Claude Juncker as Commission president.
Commission insiders, who declined to go on the record, have confirmed the feasibility study is intended to explore what energy performance and density, durability, second-life, and recycling characteristics could be required as part of potential battery ‘eco-design’ regulations in Europe.
Findings of the study could help shape regulations being drawn up for the revised EU Batteries Directive, which came into force in 2006. BBB understands the Commission intends “to table a regulatory proposal in 2019 or 2020 at the latest”. The amended Directive is expected to be unveiled by 2020.
BBB reported last October that the EU was to pump additional cash into projects that support the bloc’s battery industry ambitions.