Europe-wide battery development is intensifying

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION has officially launched a European partnership association for the battery industry. The newly established Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA) brings together almost 140 members that include industrial companies, research organisations, and other members from the EU Member States. 

BEPA’s mission is to support the achievement of Europe’s target of becoming the world’s first climate neutral continent by 2050. In practice, the association provides the framework for battery industry development aimed at creating circular economy-based economic growth and new jobs in Europe while supporting the environmental actions needed to cut emissions and pollution. 

“The cooperation to develop sustainable, affordable batteries and cost-effectively introduce renewable energy sources to the power grid becomes more extensive. From the technological point of view, the objectives are to boost the energy-efficiency of batteries, shorten the charging times, extend the life cycle of products, and improve product safety,” says CTO of Finnish Minerals Group Jani Kiuru. 

Kiuru views BEPA as part of European cooperation that offers the industry a channel for discussing any needs and issues from the industry’s perspective. Through BEPA, the industry has a way of influencing topics of research, the EU strategy, and regulation. The industry’s participation in activities at the research phase enables the smooth transfer of new technologies to projects later during the investment phase. 

The first Statutory General Assembly of BEPA, held in mid-December 2020, elected Jani Kiuru to the Association’s Executive Board as a representative of the battery raw materials industry. The other persons elected to the eight-member Executive Board include, for example, a battery advanced materials industry representative from Umicore, a battery manufacturing industry representative from Saft, and a battery automotive industry representative from BMW. 
 

The mission of Finnish Minerals Group is to responsibly maximise the value of Finnish minerals. We manage the State’s mining industry shareholdings and strive to develop the Finnish value chain of lithium-ion batteries. In addition, we are engaged in long-term technology development of the mining and battery industry. Through our work, we contribute to Europe moving towards electric transport and a more sustainable future. www.mineralsgroup.fi