Southern Europe s lithium batteries for energy storage are safe and reliable

In order to deploy renewables and to release their potential for ensuring a stable and secure energy supply, Europe needs to work to overcome the intrinsic limits of renewables. One solution to these challenges is Battery Energy Storage.

Increasing the use of renewables in the energy mix allows energy imports to be reduced, with clear benefits for Europe's energy independence and security. The decarbonisation of the energy mix and reductions in overall CO2 emissions are other clear, positive outcomes of an increased use of Battery Energy Storage in Europe.

The dependence on imports of raw materials is a long-established problem (see figure 1), lithium being no exception, as the EU currently accounts for only 0.1% of world production. Prospects for European production of high-value battery components like cathodes, anodes, electrolytes, and separators are even grimmer.

1. Introduction Electrochemical power sources such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are indispensable for portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage. However, the currently used commercial LIBs employ flammable liquid electrolytes and thus pose serious safety hazards when misused (i.e., overcharged).

Batteries, widely used in the transport and energy sectors, are central to the global energy system. They will be key to the EU's clean energy transition, industrial future and strategic autonomy. Boosting the industrial base for battery production is therefore a key task for the EU.

Yet, batteries are at the core of the European Union's energy transition, forming a crucial link in achieving the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal. They are essential for decarbonizing sectors like transportation, energy, and industry by providing reliable energy storage for renewable sources.