Energy Europe will probably remain dependent on imports for batteries, according to study
Europe's path to becoming self-sufficient in batteries is a difficult one. According to a study, it is unlikely that the continent will be self-sufficient by 2030.
11.03.2025, 04:36
11.03.2025, 04:41
SDA
A recent study by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, which was published in the journal "Nature Energy", sees only around a 50 percent chance of the EU's target of 90 percent self-sufficiency being achieved by 2030. There are good arguments that even this is too optimistic. However, the researchers led by author Steffen Link believe that a supply of at least 50 to 60 percent is relatively certain.
Overall, the demand for battery cells in Europe will probably exceed one terawatt hour per year by 2030, the researchers wrote. For their study, they simulated 1000 scenarios each for demand and production. Although there were also cases in which demand was exceeded, the opposite was more common, as Link explains.
"Particularly against the backdrop of global uncertainties and escalating trade conflicts, self-reliance would be an important point in order to avoid supply bottlenecks and ensure the competitiveness of Europe as a business location," they said. After all, batteries are a key technology not only for cars, but also for the energy supply.
Not the cheapest but perhaps better
Europe will probably not be able to produce the cheapest batteries, said Link. "But perhaps in the long term we can achieve better properties in terms of sustainability or performance or even become the leader." If we only follow or lag behind, do not take risks and do not proactively drive innovation, we will fall further behind the competition.
In order to improve the chances of European independence, Link advises politicians above all to create reliable and stable framework conditions, reduce bureaucratic hurdles and secure investments through public-private partnerships, for example. "Setting up production and scaling up simply takes too long at the moment."
Stagnating development of European production
There have recently been several setbacks in the establishment of European battery production. For example, Northvolt, which wants to build a battery factory for battery cells for up to one million electric cars per year in Heide in northern Germany, has been struggling with financial problems for some time.
Manufacturers are also hesitating elsewhere. Among other things, the project for a battery cell factory planned by the Franco-German manufacturer ACC in Kaiserslautern in southern Germany has come to a standstill. In Germany, high electricity costs for energy-intensive battery production are a locational disadvantage.
