ELBC 2026 conference programme announced

The ELBC 2026 conference programme has been released. It features the latest in lead battery technology, market trend updates and a diverse range of expert speakers from around the world. The conference takes place at the Austria Center, Vienna between September 15-18.

The ELBC 2026 programme features speakers specialising in advanced lead battery research and innovation. Topics range from partial state of charge operations, battery and power management to automotive product and test development. New components for lead batteries and interactive discussions on lead battery fundamentals will also be covered.

Pre-conference workshops on the EU’s Battery Regulation and its industry implications are also included in sessions. A Consortium for Battery Innovation (CBI) workshop will explore synergies between lead and other battery technologies. As energy storage applications become more complex, no single battery technology can fulfil all requirements. CBI will delve into how lead lithium-ion and other chemistries offer unique strengths and limitations across technical performance safety recycling and overall cost.

ELBC 2026 plenary sessions will feature speakers delivering the latest updates on global markets and trends. KPMG will provide a comprehensive global battery market outlook while CRU will lead market analysis. They willl also cover automotive and industrial battery forecasts and trends. Leoch’s Dong Li will discuss the direction of travel for Asian battery markets and Ray Kubis, chief executive of SiliconJoule, will offer a “filtered view” of the future battery market.

Optimising lead-based batteries at ELBC 2026

ELBC 2026’s detailed technical programme encompasses the full range of research and updates on scientific development including:

Carter Abney from Borregaard will present advanced characterisation techniques for lead battery electrodes. These techniques will help us understand the microscopic processes that drive lead battery performance.
Olaf Sielemann from Clarios explains how to optimise lead-based batteries for reliable backup power in advanced vehicles.
Shane Christie from ArcActive and Nicolas Clement from Hollingsworth & Vose are describing a novel manufacturing method for lead battery electrodes. This unique structure improves overall battery performance.

ELBC’s co-organiser Dr Alistair Davidson, executive director of the CBI said: “ELBC brings together experts from across the industry to share all the latest technical knowledge and breakthroughs in lead battery research. And this year’s pre-conference workshop widens our focus to include other technologies as we explore the synergies between chemistries. And with geopolitical events driving a huge increase in demand for battery energy storage worldwide, ELBC will be key to understanding both the market opportunities and the technical developments that will have the most impact in the coming years.”

Dr Andy Bush, co-organiser and executive director of the International Lead Association, said ELBC is unique in that it brings together the whole industry, from manufacturers and lead producers to suppliers: “By bringing together the entire lead battery value chain we help ensure the industry benefits from a better understanding of market and technical trends which will impact in the future. ELBC is a conference organised by the industry, for the industry and this year’s programme comes at a pivotal time with so much change, challenge and opportunity for the lead battery industry worldwide.”