Batteries are key components of a sustainable energy future \u2013 but Europe faces massive challenges along the value chain. At the workshop \u2018Batteries as the key to sustainable value creation \u2013 opportunities and potential\u2019, it became clear that the will to change is there, but the path to achieving it requires clear strategies, the courage to specialise and determination.<\/p>\n
Eva Gerold, assistant professor at the Montanuniversit\u00e4t Leoben, kicked things off with an in-depth overview of technological developments and recycling strategies. She emphasised the dynamics in cell chemistry \u2013 in particular the growing use of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries \u2013 and the resulting challenges for recycling. One example of this is that not all black mass is the same \u2013 the diversity of cell chemistries requires flexible, technologically adaptable processes. Regulatory requirements are also challenging: high recycling rates and mandatory recycling quotas in new batteries are ambitious but necessary. Gerold particularly emphasised the potential of \u2018second life\u2019 \u2013 i.e. the continued use of batteries with reduced capacity, for example for stationary energy storage. \u2018Recycling is an enabler for sustainability and security of supply,\u2019 Gerold summed up. And: \u2018Closing the raw material cycle and thus securing valuable resources would be a decisive locational advantage.\u2019<\/p>\n
There are great opportunities for the location in niches and specialisations, such as specialising in the digital product range of batteries. VIRTUAL VEHICLE is a leading player in the field of simulations. Managing Director Jost Bernasch sees enormous potential here. Digital twins contribute significantly to chemical and thermal safety in electromobility. They provide valuable insights for the European automotive industry \u2013 even in critical situations where gases could be released. Bernasch sums up: \u2018Asia is clearly the leader and has systematically developed and scaled up battery cell technology. We now have powerful batteries from Asia, yes, but we in Europe must now build on this and seize our opportunities.\u2019<\/p>\n
Georg List, Vice President of AVL List GmbH, called for a sober assessment of the current situation: \u2018The market is very attractive, but also extremely volatile. Modern batteries require different skills \u2013 we need to exchange ideas and work together.\u2019 Europe's strengths lie not in cell production, but in areas such as test system development, sustainability technologies and system understanding. Methodology, technology and user knowledge must be addressed in order to achieve real differentiation in this extremely exciting market. The appeal: have the courage to leave gaps \u2013 we cover a lot, but we don't have to be able to do everything at the necessary scale! Sustainability is the lever with which Europe can score points.<\/p>\n
Andrea H\u00f6glinger, Vice-Rector of Graz University of Technology, impressed with the expertise of the Styrian technology hub. Graz University of Technology has a broad range of expertise in battery technologies, from material development, production and recycling of batteries to the integration of battery systems and battery storage systems as a whole. The COMET centre Batterie4Life has just been launched, focusing on the efficiency and sustainability of batteries. When asked how it might be possible to catch up with Asia in terms of technological development, her confident answer is: \u2018Focus, test, secure!\u2019<\/p>\n
But the European battery industry is facing global competition with its back against the wall. Georg Knill, President of the Federation of Austrian Industries, also sees Europe's only chance of remaining a player on the international technology stage as being to focus on niche technologies. \"Sure, we are strong in some niches, but the big developments are happening elsewhere. We have lost everything, or at least 90 per cent, to China,\" said Knill. He saw one of the biggest challenges at present as being to adapt the necessary political framework conditions. This requires consistent and agile investment in research, development and innovation in order to secure the industrial base and position in strategic value chains.<\/p>\n
Ein zentraler Tenor der Diskussion: Asien ist Europa Jahre voraus \u2013 vor allem, weil dort konsequent skaliert wurde. Europa dagegen setzt oft noch zu kleinteilig und zersplittert an. Der Workshop machte die L\u00fccken un\u00fcbersehbar \u2013 und zugleich die Potenziale deutlich. Wer international bestehen will, muss klare Schwerpunkte setzen, industrielle L\u00f6sungen skalieren und Innovationen systematisch testen. Nicht Vollst\u00e4ndigkeit, sondern Spezialisierung ent\u00adscheidet. Europa hat die Expertise \u2013 jetzt gilt es, daraus Marktvorteile zu schaffen. Mut zur L\u00fccke wird zur St\u00e4rke, wenn daraus strategische Fokussierung entsteht.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The workshop was moderated by Heinz Mayer, Managing Director of JOANNEUM RESEARCH.<\/p>\n
Teilnehmer*innen: <\/strong><\/p>\n Dr. Jost BERNASCH, CEO Virtual Vehicle GmbH<\/p>\n Ass.-Prof.in DIin Dr.in Eva Gerold, Montanuniversit\u00e4t Leoben (Impulsreferat)<\/p>\n Vizerektorin Mag.a Andrea H\u00d6GLINGER, Technische Universit\u00e4t Graz<\/p>\n Georg KNILL, President Industriellenvereinigung \u00d6sterreich<\/p>\n DI Georg LIST, MBA, Vice President Corporate Strategy and Research & Technology, AVL List GmbH<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Mut zur L\u00fccke Batterien sind zentrale Bausteine einer nachhaltigen Energiezukunft \u2013 doch Europa steht vor massiven Herausforderungen entlang der Wertsch\u00f6pfungskette. Beim Workshop \u201eBatterien als Schl\u00fcssel einer nachhaltigen Wertsch\u00f6pfung \u2013 Chancen und Potenziale\u201c wurde deutlich: Der Wille zur Ver\u00e4nderung ist da, der Weg dahin braucht aber klare Strategien, Mut zur Spezialisierung und Entschlossenheit. Recycling als Schl\u00fcssel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":86429,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allgemein","institutes-allgemein","business_areas-umwelt-und-nachhaltigkeit"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86428","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/40"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86428"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86428\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87108,"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86428\/revisions\/87108"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86428"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86428"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.joanneum.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86428"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}