investment

Germany has revealed the partners of a new government-backed battery cell consortium, as part of plans to secure the nation’s “technological sovereignty in battery technology”.

Swiss battery manufacturer Leclanché has been selected to join the consortium along with German battery peers BMZ, TerraE, Customcells, EAS and Liacon.

Federal research minister Anja Karliczek said Germany would invest an extra €500 million (US$570m) in battery research over the next four years, including the construction of a ‘national battery research factory’— to be operated by the consortium— bringing research and production activities “under one roof”.

Germany has started hush-hush talks with EU leaders aimed at relaxing state-aid rules so the government can pump cash into launching of a national battery cell production programme, BEST Battery Briefing has learned.

BBB understands Germany wants to set a faster pace of progress for Europe’s ‘Batteries Alliance’— with Berlin in the driving seat.

Hong Kong-listed battery giant Leoch International Technology has invested in UK-based battery distributor DBS Energy to target sales to the country’s industrial market.

Leoch said the companies had formed a joint venture— DBS Leoch— to “significantly grow its business and become one of the leading suppliers of batteries” to UK industry.