Europe Approves €3.2 Billion to Boost Battery Research
Seven European nations, including Sweden, have approved a €3.2 billion research and development partnership focused on advancing battery technology. The initiative aims to support the EU's climate neutrality goals.
The European Commission has greenlit a €3.2 billion research and development (R&D) partnership for battery technology, involving seven European countries, including Sweden. This significant investment aims to bolster industry initiatives and contribute to the European Union's ambition of achieving climate neutrality by 2050.
Kristina Edström, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Uppsala University and coordinator for the pan-European BATTERY 2030+ initiative, highlighted the critical role of batteries in the transition away from fossil fuels. The BATTERY 2030+ roadmap emphasizes early-stage contributions from Europe's large-scale neutron and photon facilities. Research at facilities like the European Spallation Source (ESS) is deemed vital for this progress.
Neutron research at ESS is particularly valuable for studying next-generation battery technologies. "As a society, we are using batteries more and more, and the demands are always increasing," stated Edström. "We want our phones to last longer, our laptops to charge quicker, and our electric cars to go further. The only way to meet these demands is to develop new, more efficient, and more powerful batteries, and this can only be achieved through carrying out the right research."
Edström's group focuses on understanding complex battery processes, including the behavior of lithium atoms, which are challenging to study with other methods. Neutrons permit precise location of these small atoms within material structures. ESS, with its advanced instrumentation, will allow researchers to analyze more realistic sample sizes and track mechanical changes within materials during battery operation, offering exciting possibilities for future battery development.