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The battery regulation proposed by the European Commission underlines the need to reduce the social and carbon footprint of the battery sector. Fossil Free Sweden has submitted to the Swedish government a new national battery strategy showing how Sweden can take a leadership position in the development of the sustainable battery value chain. The national strategy has been developed in cooperation with EIT InnoEnergy and is supported by companies across the value chain as well as universities and environmental organizations.
A proposal for new battery regulation was adopted by the European Commission. The proposal is ambitious: it aims to reduce both the carbon footprint and the social footprint of batteries. This transformation was accelerated by the European Battery Alliance, launched by European Commissioner Maroš Šefčovic in 2017, with the aim of building a sustainable value chain for batteries in Europe . The Swedish strategy for a sustainable battery value chain shows how actions in Sweden will contribute to the evolution of the battery sector in Europe.
Developing sustainable battery production is not only important for achieving climate goals, but it also enables the emergence of a competitive industry that creates growth and jobs throughout the battery value chain.
Svante Axelsson, National Coordinator of Fossil Free Sweden, says: “The high demand for electrification in the transport sector and industrial processes has made battery manufacturing a real bottleneck. Sustainably produced batteries could become the next big industrial expansion in Sweden. ”
In the “Global Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Ranking” ( “Worldwide supply chain of lithium-ion”) Bloomberg NEF, Sweden should move from 10 th to 4 th place by 2025, just behind China, Japan and the United States.
Sweden occupies a strong position, with access to raw materials, cheap and renewable electricity, expertise and political instruments that promote the sustainability of electrification with high environmental requirements. In addition, Sweden has strong players across the value chain, from recycling and mining to the manufacture of active materials, cells and complete batteries, to applications in industry. automotive as well as in the electrical system.
It is the government initiative Fossil Free Sweden which is the origin of the national strategy for a sustainable battery value chain, in cooperation with EIT InnoEnergy which also developed the basis of the European battery strategy for the European Commission. .
This strategy is supported by players across the value chain, from the Swedish mining industry to the battery producer Northvolt, but also by car manufacturers like Volvo Cars, the Volvo Group and Scania, the electricity distributor Vattenfall, as well. than by universities and environmental organizations.
The strategy lists demands for a national policy in five areas:
- Sustainable batteries for an energy and transport system without fossil fuels: Stimulating the demand and the use of sustainable batteries.
- Sustainable battery production, a new industry for Sweden: Creating the conditions for the development of a sustainable battery value chain in Sweden.
- Material recovery and extraction for a circular and sustainable battery sector: Creating the conditions for the mining and recycling industries to provide sustainably produced raw materials
- Skills development for a busy future: Investing in research, innovation and education for skills development.
- Collaboration and dialogue for growth and export: Implement and monitor action proposals through broad collaboration throughout the battery value chain.
Kenneth Johansson, CEO of EIT InnoEnergy Scandinavia, comments: “Sweden is already an integral part of the European battery ecosystem today, but there is room for development in many parts of the chain. value and here, strategy can be an important tool. We are impressed with the commitment provided by everyone involved and look forward to seeing how the example of this strategy can serve as a model for other European countries to follow.
