Issue 02/2023 | Strengthening the battery ecosystem
Editorial
Welcome battery enthusiasts!
Welcome again to the up-to-date issue of our newsletter, with a wide range of information and hot topics. Despite the ongoing global political challenges, the battery ecosystem around the nucleus IPCEI has proven stable and continued to develop in the first half of 2023. With our accompanying activities, we have addressed the main challenges such as IRA, Critical Raw Materials, European Battery Regulation or shortage of skilled workers - as always in close collaboration with partners from companies and networks. In such good cooperation, we were able to present the network at HANNOVER MESSE 2023 in April. We were able to present very prominently achieved results from the IPCEI work areas and the successful work on the battery passport at the booth of the German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
Another highlight was the IPCEI EuBatIn General Assembly, which we held in Berlin with great participation of the IPCEI member states and the cooperating companies. We were able to discuss many new, essential aspects for our accompanying activities and achieved a lot of support from the participants. A clear message came out of these (and many other network) meetings: Europe's competitiveness will only be achieved TOGETHER and through close cooperation along the entire value chain.
We will continue to pursue these findings in the coming months through various networking formats and substantive contributions. This newsletter is intended to give you a good insight into the results of our team work and provides a preview of upcoming events - Battery Live Talks, IPCEI Matchmaking, Battery Innovation Days - for which we want to gather as much expertise as possible.
Stay active and support our work with new insights, solutions and ideas, to overcome the challenges we face in good cooperation!
Uwe Seidel and Stefan Wolf
Programme Management IPCEI Battery, VDI/VDE-IT
Study: Spotlight on talents in the battery industry
In the coming years, the demand for skilled workers in the European battery industry will increase significantly due to the ramp-up of capacities along the whole value chain, as companies are striving to successfully compete on the market with sustainably produced batteries and to contribute to the European climate targets. Our most recent study commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) shows that more skilled workers can be attracted to the industry if a diverse workforce is targeted with the right framework conditions.
In the study, the team of the Accompanying Research used data analyses to look at the skilled labour situation in the German battery ecosystem with a special focus on diversity. As competition for specialists with experience in battery production has become global, the German industry has been actively attracting international talent. Foreign nationals accounted for 73% of the increase in personnel in Germany’s "Manufacture of batteries and accumulators” between 2020 and 2021. However, despite these positive developments, challenges remain on the path towards sustainable integration. The representation of foreign nationals in this sector, especially in leadership positions has still been low. The very same applies to women in the batteries sector. Though, about 40% of the German battery companies surveyed for this study have already formulated commitments to promote diversity and thus lay an essential foundation for the attractiveness of their company and the sustainable securing of skilled workers.
To gain deeper insights into the qualifications sought after in this industry, an analysis was also conducted, classifying the qualifications into skilled occupations and academic occupations and assigning them to respective departments.
With the results of this study, companies can make a comprehensive assessment of their own personnel situation. In addition, the study uses recommendations for action to show what companies can do to adapt their human resources strategy with a view to promoting diversity and thus position themselves as attractive employers.
The study is available for download on ipcei-batteries.eu >>
IPCEI EuBatIn Member States - projects and accompanying measures
In every issue of European Battery Innovation Quarterly, the IPCEI news section contains briefs on the IPCEI European Battery Innovation member states. Below, you find a short member state profile, with information relating to the IPCEIs and battery ecosystem.
To find out more about the member states and projects, explore the European IPCEI batteries map >>
France: IPCEI projects and accompanying measures
France is taking part in the two IPCEIs on Batteries and is coordinating the first one, authorised in 2019 by the European Commission and involving seven Member States and 16 companies supported by these Member States representing the whole value chain. The implementation of the two IPCEIs on Batteries is closely coordinated jointly by Germany and France, with the support of the Commission (DG GROW, DG RTD, JRC and DG COMP) to ensure consistency in project monitoring. Best practice is shared, particularly in terms of annual reporting and feedback from companies.
France is funding a total of four companies in these two IPCEIs on Batteries: ACC and Solvay in the first IPCEI on Batteries, for which the Commission has granted a maximum amount of state aid of around €960 million; and Arkema and Tokai Carbon Savoie in the IPCEI EuBatIn.
Focus : ACC - a pioneering battery production project in Europe
On May 30th 2023, the first French Gigafactory of battery has been inaugurated by the Automotive Cell Company (ACC). The joint venture between Stellantis, Saft and Mercedes is developing advanced cells and modules for advanced (and eventually all-solid) lithium-ion batteries, and the construction of three gigafactories in France, Germany and Italy. ACC has chosen to locate its research and development activities in Bruges, near Bordeaux, while its pilot plant - designed to test the production process prior to scale-up - is located in Nersac (Charente), close to a historic Saft plant.
This project reveals a real trans-European dimension by its development across the EU, in France, Germany and Italy.
Germany: Qualification & training projects
As part of the national initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action to support the battery cell manufacturing ecosystem, funding is being provided not only for classical research and development projects but also for projects designed to help meet current and future qualification needs in the battery cell production value chain. Therefore, so-called battery competence trios, i.e. consortia from the fields of education, research and industry clusters, are developing and evaluating targeted professional training measures for various regions of Germany. Funding is provided for projects in Berlin/Brandenburg, Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony/Saxony-Anhalt/Thuringia, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Saarland.The first projects have already been launched.
We will report on the successes of this programme in the coming newsletters and in our LinkedIn Group >>
Market analysis: Build-up of the battery industry in Europe
Electromobility remains the most important growth driver for lithium-ion battery sales. In the wake of record sales of over 10 million electric vehicles worldwide in 2022, global sales of traction batteries also increased significantly by 76% last year. This growth trend will continue in 2023. More and more cell manufacturing sites and factories for the production of battery components are coming on stream in Europe to meet the high demand. By the end of 2023, cell production capacity could reach 175 GWh/a. The market update of the Accompanying Research team shows the challenges that arise when setting up and ramping up cell manufacturing factories.
Battery Insights: The Accompanying Research on Battery Cell Production
The accompanying research team supports the built-up of the European battery production industry on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and strives to maximize the impact of the battery IPCEIs.
Together with its partners, the team promotes the establishment of battery cell production in Germany and Europe by connecting the funded projects with actors of this ecosystem, supporting political decision-making processes and moderating the stakeholder dialogue. The team provides analytics, dissemination, networking and further accompanying activities.
In a recently published short video, Dr. Stefan Wolf, Project Management Accompanying Research, gives an insight into the accompanying research on battery cell production.
Find out more about the Accompanying Research on the IPCEI Batteries website >>
Battery Ecosystem: Interactive Web Application
The team of the accompanying research has created an interactive exhibit to explain the topic of batteries, to show the IPCEI activities and to make the battery ecosystem visible. Initially created for the European Conference on Batteries in 2020, the exhibit has been made available as web application to allow users to explore online all the aspects of battery production and the ecosystem. The contents of the exhibit have now been updated. Besiders offering an entry point for all non-experts providing battery basics, the more detailed battery contents have been expanded to include new focus topics such as standardization and battery passports, machinerey and plant engineering, or test and analytics. Additionally, the pressing topic of workforce and qualification has been addressed. The updated exhibit was first presented at the Hannover Messe 2023 at the booth of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
The contents are available in a web application on the BMWK website>>
Batteries Europe: Factsheets on international battery innovation systems
International monitoring is essential to understand global structures for supporting battery innovation, as well as policy objectives and instruments for creating successful battery ecosystems. Batteries Europe, the European think-tank on battery R&D&I established by the European Commission, is currently preparing a review of global battery ecosystem, funding and international benchmarking on KPIs to ensure Europe's leadership in battery technology and to identify opportunities for international cooperation. Six factsheets providing key information on the national battery ecosystems in China, Japan, USA, Australia, South Korea and the EU have been already published.
The factsheets are available on the Batteries Europe website >>
EIT Raw Materials: The RawMaterials Academy - Strengthening the raw materials sector by educating the lifecycle of innovators
The RawMaterials Academy is the overarching brand of all the education activities of EIT RawMaterials. These range from innovative education projects launched via calls and run by the Innovation Community’s partners to a number of centrally operated projects. Activities across the entire ecosystem of learners – Master’s and PhD students, industrial partners, professionals within the raw materials sector, and wider society – foster new ways of learning and teaching by connecting academia, industry and research organisations.
The RawMaterials Academy aims to:
- Introduce society as a whole to the importance and relevance of raw materials and incite interest in topics related to raw materials
- Equip talent with technical knowledge, including ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards, required by the raw materials industry today
- Foster entrepreneurial and innovation skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for the entre- and intrapreneurs of tomorrow.
Save the Date: Battery Innovation Days 2023
Let’s talk about Battery Innovation! After two successful editions, the Battery Innovation Days (BID) event is back and is set to take place on 14 & 15 November in a hybrid format, in Bordeaux (Centre de Congrès Cité Mondiale) and online.
Today’s key European research & innovation initiatives (Batteries Europe, Battery 2030+ and the Batteries European Partnership Association) in partnership with the Batteries IPCEIs, will co-organize a unique hybrid experience, designed to bring together numerous key players and experts from the battery field.
The Battery Innovation Days event fosters dialogue among the research community, policy makers, industry players and end-users to ensure a constructive feedback loop towards the definition of research and innovation priorities in Europe. The scope of the Battery Innovation Days event is to increase knowledge and encourage exchange around the deployment of leading-edge technologies in battery materials, cell design, manufacturing and recycling.
Network and connect with industry peers, stay on top of trends and technologies and gain industry insights. We look forward to meet you in person in Bordeaux or to welcome you online.
Registrations for the Battery Innovation Days 23 is open, secure your ticket now >>
Events, conferences & networking
Below, you can find a brief overview of upcoming events and conferences related to the topic of batteries. If you are organising a battery-related conference or other event that you would like to have included in this list of our next quarterly newsletter, please click here to send us an e-mail.
8-10 August 2023 | WBE 2023 World Battery Industry Expo |
3-7 September 2023 | EUROMAT 2023 |
4-5 September 2023 | BATTERY TECH Europe 2023 |
13-15 September 2023 | K-Battery Show 2023 |
27-29 September 2023 | Automotive Battery.Tech |
8-12 October 2023 | 244th ECS Meeting |
10-13 October 2023 | Batteries Event 2023 |
7-9 November 2023 | International Battery Production Conference |
7-9 November 2023 | Battery Experts Forum |
14-15 November 2023 | The Battery Innovation Days 2023 |
27-28 November 2023 | Future Battery Forum |
Save the Date: Battery Live Talk
The accompanying research team of the IPCEI programme is continuing its successful monthly Battery Live Talk series on important questions that arise within the battery IPCEIs and the battery ecosystem. We look forward to insightful expert keynotes and interactive discussions with you on key topics such as supply chains, future battery technology and many more.
Save the date for the next Battery Live Talks - every last Thursday of the month, from 16.30 - 17.15 CEST.
Registrations will open soon. The online event is free of charge and you are kindly invited to join! If you are signed up for this newsletter, you will receive an invitation in due time.
More information on upcoming events and on previous Battery Live Talks is available on this website >>
We will also announce the Battery Live Talks in our LinkedIn group European Battery Innovation and would be happy to welcome you there. Join the group to discuss and to network with more than 3,500 battery experts. Follow us on LinkedIn >>
Legal Notice / Acknowledgements / Subscription
Acknowledgements:
France: Direction Générale des Entreprises (DGE), Ministère de l’Economie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique
VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH (VDI/VDE-IT) has been commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) to act as the project management agency and to provide scientific support for the Europe-wide "IPCEI battery cell production" project.
Together with its partners from TÜV Rheinland Consulting and Technical University of Berlin the accompanying research team provides analytics, dissemination and networking activities for the German IPCEI projects.
VDI/VDE Innovation + Technik GmbH
Department Mobility, Energy and Future Technologies
Steinplatz 1
10623 Berlin
Germany
ENCBattery@vdivde-it.de
www.vdivde-it.de
Registergericht: Amtsgericht
Berlin-Charlottenburg, HRB 99568
Geschäftsführer: Peter Dortans, Dr. Werner Wilke
Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Axel Stepken
Image credits
Symbols: AdobeStock / davooda, presentationload
Photos: Skeleton Technologies, Battery Innovation Days, VDMA
