Econ Min Altmaier announces ambitious target for European battery cell production

Germany’s economy and energy minister, Peter Altmaier, has announced the target of covering 30 percent of global battery cell demand with production “in Germany and Europe” by 2030 to make the continent more independent from Asian imports. At a mobility conference in Berlin, Altmaier said batteries were a “game changer” technology that would profoundly affect entire value chains in the car industry and beyond. “It’s not too late yet, but we have to hurry up.” He said the government had set aside one billion euros to support company alliances for battery cell production until 2021, adding that Europe must produce the world’s best and most sustainable batteries using renewable power and achieving high recycling rates. "We might not win the race for the cheapest battery, but the race for the best batteries remains undecided. Germany takes on the challenge," Altmaier said.
Altmaier said talks with various company alliances were in advanced stages, but didn't name the companies involved. He added that concrete results will likely be announced around the turn of the year, followed by concrete investment decisions at various locations at the end of the first quarter 2019, so that production could start in 2021. He said the location of battery cell factories was also a topic for Germany's coal exit commission.
At the same event, EU commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said battery cell production enjoyed “super priority” for European industrial policy. He said batteries would also be essential for the energy transition as a means to store renewable power and balance the grid.

For background, read the article Chinese-German battery cell deal key step for mobility transition and the dossier Electricity storage is next feat for Germany’s energy transition.