EU’s Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan classifies batteries as a critical element for the implementation of climate neutrality goals in the frame of European Green Deal and RePowerEU Plan. The current European innovation landscape identifies raw material criticality as a crucial aspect for unlocking the potential of sustainable battery manufacturing in Europe. Hence, in line with the expected demand for batteries for both mobility and stationary energy storage applications, actions are necessary for eliminating the criticality factors for a secured material supply chain.

Considering the overall sustainability challenges associated with the all-lifecycle stages (raw material extraction, manufacturing, use phase, and end-of-life treatment), improving supply chain security and resilience supplemented by circular economy approaches, is a crucial element as defined in the EU’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). Given the importance of the value chain for the future of European battery manufacturing and supply, the next session of TwinVECTOR Webinar Series is organized with the title of “Challenges for a European battery value chain: State-of-the-art, prospects, and resilience” consisting of two presentations focusing on raw materials supply challenges, and strategies for enhancing raw material supply resilience. The online webinar is carried out in cooperation with StoRIES, EERA Joint Program Energy Storage and POLiS being open to anybody and providing sufficient space for discussions.

Agenda

14:00 Welcome and Introduction

14:10 Dr. Stefan Wolf (Senior Consultant at VDI/VDE-IT) – “Europe’s Battery Raw Material Supply Challenges”

14:35 Q&A Session

15:00 Dr. Michael Lüken (Associate Professor at the New Vision University in Tbilisi, Georgia) “Enhancing Resilience in Battery Raw Material Supply Chains: Strategies and Recommendations”

15:25 Q&A Session

15:50 Wrap-up and Final Remarks

16:00 End of Webinar

Presentation 1: “Europe‘s battery supply chain challenges” by Stefan Wolf

Abstract

The electric vehicle revolution rests on efficient and sustainable battery technologies, yet Europe finds itself heavily reliant on imported battery cells due to a lack of domestic raw material sources and production capacities.

This presentation explores current challenges in battery raw material supply chains on the background of Europe's dependence on mineral imports, global manufacturing capacity disparities, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. Notably, The European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act acknowledges the need for a reassessment of raw materials policy in light of geopolitical shifts.

Despite efforts to strengthen recycling initiatives and launch European raw material projects, import dependency will persist well into the 2030s, particularly for critical materials like lithium, nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite. For example, all lithium for battery applications is imported today, and even if announced projects were fully realized, Europe would only be able to mine about 25% of its own lithium demand and refine about 50% of the needed intermediate lithium products in 2030.

Ultimately, adopting the recycling economy presents a long-term solution to raw material dependency, but concerted efforts are needed to fill the material cycle before achieving a truly circular economy.

Biography

Dr. Stefan Wolf is a Senior Consultant at VDI/VDE-IT and leads the accompanying research of the IPCEI ‘EuBatIn – European Batteries Innovation’ project, funded by the by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWi).

Presentation 2: “Enhancing Resilience in Battery Raw Material Supply Chains: Strategies and Recommendations” by Michael Lüken

Abstract

The persistent import dependency of critical raw materials for battery production underscores the increasing importance of ensuring supply chain resilience, defined as a supply chain's ability to respond to external and abrupt disruptions. This presentation examines the core principles of supply chain resilience, drawing insights from material-specific risk analysis and literature findings about supply chain risks in other sectors. Four key action areas can be identified: consistent implementation of risk and security management strategies, enhancement of digitalization and transparency standards, careful balancing of supply security and storage costs, and diversification of supply chains, including improvements in recycling systems. Collaboration between public and private stakeholders is essential to address these action areas and implement measures effectively.

Biography

Dr Michael Lüken was appointed as an Associate Professor for Sustainability Governance at the New Vision University in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 2023. Prior to this, he was a Consultant at VDI/VDE-IT, where he specialized in electric mobility solutions for freight transport and battery supply chain resilience. His current research focusses on decarbonization strategies in transitional economies.

Organizing Team: Merve Erakca (KIT), Jens Buchgeister (KIT), Hüseyin Ersoy (KIT), Manuel Baumann (KIT), Viera Pechancová (TBU)