EASE Inputs on Battery Sustainability and Ecodesign

Energy storage technologies are essential for both sustainable mobility and the integration of increasing shares of renewable energy sources into the energy system while maintaining an efficient and secure operation of the grid. Different policy measures are needed to promote the research, development, and deployment of all energy storage technologies, including batteries: R&D funding must be directed towards this challenge and the energy market design must create a level playing field for all technologies.

For batteries in particular, it is important also to develop requirements on ethical sourcing of raw materials as well as strict sustainability requirements (e.g. touching on durability, low carbon footprint, reusability, recyclability of batteries, etc).

EASE supports efforts by EU policymakers to bolster the manufacturing and deployment of safe and sustainable battery technologies across the EU and believes that a proposal for sustainability requirements could have a positive impact on the industry. However, a transparent dialogue between policymakers, industry, and other stakeholders is crucial to ensure that the proposals are practical, feasible, and technology neutral.

First EASE inputs on this topic have already been provided in the reply to the Commission’s Consultation on Sustainability Requirements for Batteries.