Germany steps up battery cell research with new institute
Clean Energy Wire
Germany is stepping up research in the battery cell sector with a new institute, in a bid to break the dependence on Asian battery cell makers. “We will not leave this field to others, but face the competition,” said Federal Minister of Education and Research Anja Karliczek. The federal government will invest 500 million euros in the research institute, which will be based in the western German city of Münster. This figure will be topped up by 200 million euros from the state government, according to the University of Münster which is involved in the project. “Until now most batteries come from Asia, while not a single battery cell of today’s e-cars is produced in Germany,” the ministry said. The aim of the project is “to create a framework in which materials, cell concepts, production processes and associated machinery can be developed, tested and optimized”, the university said. A battery factory is due to start operation in 2022, the ministry said.
The research site in Münster is part of a broader government push to increase Germany’s capacities in producing large battery cells, which are “a key technology, for example for electric mobility” and thus the global transition to renewable energy, according to the federal ministry.
