Advantage of renewable energy
EU battery production has significantly lower emissions than Chinese imports
May 13, 2024, 3:50 a.m
It is an important industry, battery production. China is the market leader in this respect. For some time now, the EU has wanted to become independent of Chinese imports and rely more on its own production. According to a study, this is also a sensible decision from an ecological point of view.
With its own battery production instead of imports from China, the EU could significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the production of electric cars, according to a study. Complete battery production in Europe would emit around 37 percent less carbon dioxide than previous imports, according to a study by the Transport and Environment organization (T&E).
A lot of energy is required to produce battery cells. According to the study, the main reason for the possible CO2 savings is the “relatively high proportion” of renewable energies in Europe. After a complete exit from oil, gas and coal, European battery manufacturers could even emit more than 60 percent less carbon dioxide compared to previous imports.
According to the study, European companies have the technical ability to produce batteries in the EU. However, around half of the planned EU production is in danger of moving to the USA or China due to a lack of financing, warned T&E managing director in Germany, Sebastian Bock. The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the EU Battery Fund need to be better positioned “to be able to support investments in European gigafactories.”
Metal mining in the EU
Extraction of the required metals in the EU would also reduce CO2 emissions, according to the study. Compared to previously imported nickel from Indonesia and lithium from Australia processed in China, the transport routes are also shorter. T&E called for metals to be increasingly mined and recycled in Europe.
The EU’s goal is to cover at least ten percent of its needs for strategically important raw materials such as nickel and lithium from its own production by 2030. The processing capacity should then be at least 40 percent. For battery production, the EU is also relying on closer cooperation with Norway, which has large raw material reserves in the North Sea.
In Schleswig-Holstein, the Swedish manufacturer Northvolt is building a battery factory that is scheduled to start operations in 2026 – supported with 902 million euros from the federal and state governments. According to its own statements, Northvolt plans to produce the “world’s most environmentally friendly batteries” in Heide in the Dithmarschen district; production will be powered by wind power from the region.