European Commission to Provide €2.9 Billion to Support Battery Innovation

Image: European Battery Alliance

he European Battery Innovation project has been approved for up to €2.9 billion in funding by the European Commission.

The project, which was jointly prepared by 12 member states and involves 42 participants, is planned to cover the entire battery value chain from extraction of raw materials, the design and manufacturing of battery cells and packs, and recycling and disposal with a focus on sustainability.

Details of individual projects have not been made available but the initiative is expected to contribute to the development of a whole set of new technological breakthroughs, including different cell chemistries and novel production processes, as well as other innovations in the battery value chain.

Almost 300 collaborations are envisaged, with the involvement also of over 150 external partners, such as universities, research organisations and SMEs.

The funding has been approved by the Commission under EU State aid rules as an ‘Important Project of Common European Interest’ (IPCEI). The project, which will run through 2028, is expected to unlock an additional €9 billion in private investments.

“Thanks to its focus on a next generation of batteries, this strong pan-European project will help revolutionise the battery market,” says Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, in charge of the European Battery Alliance.

“It will also boost our strategic autonomy in a sector vital for Europe’s green transition and long-term resilience.”

The project is the second battery initiative under the IPCEI framework and follows the first, which was approved for up to €3.2 billion in December. That project, which is expected to secure another €5 billion over its 10-year lifetime, involves 17 participants with a focus on raw and advanced materials for batteries, innovative cells and modules, battery management systems and repurposing and recycling.

The participating countries in the first project are Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden. All are also involved in the second project, along with Austria, Croatia, Greece, Slovakia and Spain.

These projects are an outcome of the European Battery Alliance, which was formed in 2017 to develop an innovative battery value chain in Europe. Its main aims in its action plan are to secure access to raw materials and develop a manufacturing capability at scale, while others include building industry leadership and a skilled workforce.

Šefčovič expects that by 2025, Europe should be manufacturing enough battery cells each year to power at least six million electric vehicles.

Source: Smart Energy