The European Union’s energy chief has given his first public indication yet that he personally believes advanced lead-acid batteries can be part of the bloc’s future energy mix, despite months of moves against the technology by European institutions.
Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission vice-president spearheading EU ‘energy union’ policies, told BEST Battery Briefing that all advanced battery technologies should be deployed— and should benefit from R&D grant aid— if they meet strict new environmental requirements in terms of sustainability in production and supply of materials.
Šefčovič (pictured) told BBB on the sidelines of last week’s Energy Storage Global Conference in Brussels: “We are looking at all technologies.” He said innovations in battery technology had to be “cutting edge and respond to the highest environmental standards”.
Asked if he accepted that lead-acid products meet the EU’s criteria in terms of being clean, green and innovative, Šefčovič said he personally was “not familiar with the technical details of the technology”. However, he said the market should be free to choose the “best technology solution to fit” any given project in Europe.
The commissioner said he was “unaware” of criticism that the European Commission and other EU institutions were pursuing policies that threatened the lead industry— and he said he would not want to be “unfriendly” to lead.
The director of the Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC), Dr Alistair Davidson, told BBB: “The vice-president’s comments are very encouraging and should be a call to arms for the lead battery industry in Europe to ensure our technology and its benefits are clearly communicated at all levels of the EU.”
“There is a gaping hole in awareness and understanding of the benefits of lead battery technology among policy makers and legislators and how it can help the EU achieve ambitious decarbonisation and electrification targets”, Davidson said. “We also have an open door to seek the kind of advanced research partnership we have developed in the US in Europe, showcasing our cutting edge innovation capability, and we are actively pursuing this.”
Davidson said the commissioner’s proposals for new guidelines on ‘green’ batteries, to differentiate products in a competitive global marketplace, was also welcome, “and the track record of lead batteries, their safety and sustainability, ensure we are well positioned to meet the criteria”.
“Meanwhile we urgently need to resolve the disconnect between the European Commission’s proposed regulatory restrictions, which would be a hammer blow for the EU’s successful lead battery industry, and would prevent a much needed technology meeting the EU’s energy storage requirements now and in the future,” Davidson added.