Dominique Ristori, Director General for Energy for the European Commission, today launches Batteries Europe, the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Batteries to drive research and innovation, knowledge transfer and competitiveness across the European battery value chain. EIT InnoEnergy has been appointed to lead the platform together with the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) and the European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE).

The platform brings together key European stakeholders in the European batteries research and innovation (R&I) community to support EU competitiveness along the entire battery value chain. Batteries Europe will develop and update research and innovation agendas and roadmaps to spur development of battery projects at both pan-EU and national levels. In addition, the platform will help the R&I community share information, ideas, best practice, research, and access to finance.

EIT InnoEnergy, along with EERA and EASE, will provide secretariat and cross collaboration from its involvement with the European Battery Alliance (EBA). Launched in 2017, the EBA seeks to create a competitive and sustainable battery value chain in Europe and brings together more than 200 stakeholders to develop a market that could be worth €250 billion a year by 2025.

Diego Pavia, EIT InnoEnergy CEO commented: “Energy storage is the linchpin technology for the clean energy system of the future, from grid storage to electric vehicles and cordless tools. It is essential that research and innovation agendas are closely aligned with those in industry to make a seamless transition from concept to reality.”

“Batteries Europe will bring about a step-change in the way we collaborate, from mining, refining, design and manufacture, to digitalisation and recycling. By ensuring research and industry actions are taken in tandem, the platform can fast-track our progress towards a sustainable and competitive battery supply chain in Europe.”

Over the next three years, the 1M€ project will facilitate coordination of efforts undertaken by public and private partners and other initiatives involved in battery R&I activities through events, thematic meetings and networking opportunities. In line with the European Commission’s priority to accelerate the establishment of a competitive European battery industry, the forum will help to empower the Implementation Plan of the SET plan Action 7 and support the launch of two concrete cooperation initiatives beyond the scope of traditional EU funded projects.

The Secretariat will be supported by project partners Zabala and Clerens Consulting. Following today’s launch, Batteries Europe will officially kick off with a large stakeholder event in the coming month.