Europe's Battery Ambition: Energy Demand to Skyrocket by 2050
Europe is ramping up its efforts to become self-sufficient in battery cell production, a key step towards its green energy transition. A recent study highlights the significant energy savings and increased demand that come with this shift.
Currently, using stationary battery storage and electric motors saves around 90 terawatt hours of energy annually, avoiding the need for fossil fuel extraction, processing, and transportation. However, as Europe aims to meet its entire battery cell demand with 'made in Europe' products, energy requirements will surge. By 2050, annual energy demand for European battery cell production could skyrocket from the current 3.5 terawatt hours to around 250 terawatt hours.
The research team estimates that by 2050, around 200 to 250 terawatt hours of electricity will be needed annually for charging electric vehicles. Additionally, about 800 gigawatt hours of storage will require recycling by the same year. The study, based on a life cycle analysis using data from current research and the 'ecoinvent' database, underscores the need for substantial energy amounts in Europe to support this growing demand.
Simon Lux, a researcher involved in the study, emphasizes the importance of a well-developed recycling infrastructure. Without it, energy demand for cell production could exceed 250 terawatt hours. However, with an efficient recycling system in place by 2050, energy demand could be reduced by 33 to 46 percent, bringing it back down to around 250 terawatt hours.
To achieve its goal of self-sufficiency in battery cell production, Europe will need to invest significantly in research and development. The Fraunhofer Institute for Battery Cell Production (Fraunhofer FFB) has already received substantial funding, with about 500 million euros allocated for research facilities and projects. These efforts aim to accelerate industrial innovation in battery cell production, supporting Europe's transition to a sustainable energy future.
