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European Commission gives green light for first European battery project
The European Commission has approved the first major European project for battery cell production // This clears the way for the funding of five German companies and companies from six other EU member states with the aim of establishing value chains for battery production in Germany and Europe // The industrial production of battery cells for mobile and stationary energy storage is anchored in the so-called Energy and Climate Fund (EKF) of the German Federal Government as funding priority and is supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) with over 1 billion euros
At the initiative of Minister Peter Altmaier and together with the French Minister for Economic Affairs, Bruno Le Maire, Germany and France brought together the other Member States involved - Belgium, Finland, Italy, Poland and Sweden. The large-scale battery project now approved is a pioneering success in a highly ambitious European industrial policy. As regards German industry, the companies BASF, BMW, Opel, Umicore and Varta are involved.
At the beginning of 2020, Ministers Le Maire and Altmaier will jointly lay the foundation stone for the pilot plant in France. By the mid-20s at the latest, battery cells are also to be produced on an industrial scale in Germany.
"I am delighted that the European Commission has examined and approved the first major battery project for Europe in just a few weeks. This is a great success for Germany and Europe as an automotive engineering and manufaturing base. We want to build the most innovative and sustainable batteries in Germany and Europe and thus secure added-value creation and jobs in Europe. That is why we pursue an holistic approach with our concept, from material over production to recycling. Now it is important to get the concrete projects off the ground quickly.“
Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs | in a press release of the BMWi dated 09/12/2019
The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) has made the industrial production of battery cells for mobile and stationary energy storage an integral part of the German government's so-called Energy and Climate Fund (EKF) and is providing over 1 billion euros for its priority area of funding. The aim is to bundle and strengthen the technological competence for battery cells in Germany and establish large-scale production in Germany and Europe on the basis of research and innovation.
The Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy is currently working with German and European industry on two major projects on battery cell innovation. They are implemented as so-called "Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI)" and include projects from numerous European Member States.
The second company consortium was submitted to the European Commission for pre-notification at the end of November 2019. Nine German companies as well as companies and research institutions from another ten European member states are involved in the project. According to the ministry, the work programme defines which tasks along the value chain the participating companies are to perform.
The two IPCEIs projects fully cover the battery value chain from raw materials and functional materials to cell production and integration, secondary use and recycling. The aim is to ensure that the value chain built up in Germany and Europe is innovative in its technologies, but also meets the highest standards of sustainability and CO2 intensity of production. Therefore, research and innovation as well as the industrialisation of new technologies are the scope of the projects.
The projects from the two IPCEIs comprehensively cover the battery value chain from raw materials and functional materials to cell production and integration, secondary use and recycling. The aim is to ensure that the value chain established in Germany and Europe is innovative in its technologies, but also meets the highest standards of sustainability and CO2 intensity of production. Therefore, research and innovation as well as the industrialisation of new technologies are at the heart of the projects.
The BMWi is supporting the two IPCEIs with over one billion euros.
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