More batteries please: political energies in Washington and Brussels align

The political impetus behind tackling climate change is now driving policy in both Washington and Brussels. Batteries are central to meeting low carbon ambitions.

US President Joe Biden’s commitment to boost domestic manufacturing and battery innovation is matched in Europe by newly-announced multi-billion Euro funding supporting battery projects across the bloc.

Political tectonic plates across the Atlantic have moved and turned a shade of green, and the lead battery industries in Europe and in the United States are pointing to their peerless recycling record and circular economy credentials.

The EU-based lead battery value chain is an established, sustainable manufacturing capability producing highly-advanced batteries – all of which can be fully recycled at the end of their life. This gold standard recycling process delivers approximately €2 billion worth of lead from recycled sources, which is ploughed back into EU lead battery production.

In order to meet the commitment to achieve net-zero emissions in Europe, lead batteries will need to play a central role providing energy storage at scale.

The EU-based chairman of lead battery research hub, the Consortium for Battery Innovation, Dr Christian Rosenkranz, has signalled the lead battery value chain’s critical role in delivering a low carbon future.

He has called on governments and industry to work more closely to help accelerate the development of all advanced battery technologies. He said: “We need to see a huge uplift in rechargeable battery energy storage if countries are to get anywhere near the global targets for reducing carbon emissions.”

Europe needs a secure supply of reliable, affordable and safe battery energy storage. The disruptions to economies and daily life during the COVID-19 pandemic have emphasised the importance of reliable batteries made in Europe using raw materials supplied in Europe. From providing back up to hospitals to powering the vehicles that commit the daily commute and distributing goods, lead batteries have proven their reliability.

Europe’s future as centre of excellence for battery technologies should be built on its homegrown lead battery value chain with its advanced manufacturing and recycling capability.

Read more for why analysts predict a high-growth future for lead batteries – a technology necessary for a decarbonised future

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