EDITORIAL: ALWAYS WINTER BUT NEVER CHRISTMAS

A rising tide lifts all boats. In recent years that’s been the fundamental proposition justifying a promised boom for the lead battery business. Demand will be such for energy storage, people say, that no one chemistry will be able to satisfy all our needs — all battery technologies will rise on this tide of demand. The basis for this thinking at least is logical. But only in part. Yes, climate change is real. The world needs to decarbonize rapidly. As fossil fuels are replaced with renewable sources of power such as wind or solar, the need to bridge intermittency, when the wind doesn’t blow or the sun shine, will be ever greater. Energy storage will become the new pillar supporting modern society. Batteries will be an essential for transportation, the home, the electrical grid. Everything. But this is where the thinking starts to break down. What if demand for energy storage is not as strong as some people are predicting? What if the electromobility revolution stalls and EV uptake is limited? Most estimates for our energy needs are looking achievable. Analysts’ forecasts continue to show double digit growth for lithium batteries and single growth for lead ones. The huge electrical grid markets of the future will be valued in the billions of dollars but what percentage of them, at the moment, have lead batteries? Less than 2%. Lithium batteries easily make up the balance. And in the US, which leads the world in the adoption of renewables, battery sales for ESS is firmly being placed with lithium buyers. This is the moment — and ELBC is the venue for us to discuss this — when we need to hear the truth of the matter. For the last five years the standard lead policy line is that we’ll be absolutely vital in the future. But for those of us still caught in midwinter of sales of not spectacular growth, the promise of Christmas seems a long way off. Mike Halls, Editor

This ELBC meeting is different from those of the last few years — and possibly the most important of the previous decade. The energy storage landscape — from automobiles to the electricity grids of the future — is changing rapidly. The last event, because of the Covid pandemic, had to be held as a virtual conference and was not the forum to discuss in depth these issues. The logic behind the ELBC meetings was always meant to be a confluence of displaying the intellectual rigor of advances in lead battery technology and the markets that we operate in, as much as the social business and networking that the industry needs to strive forward. This is the first iteration of a supplement that will be distributed electronically on August 10, updated and released at the end of the month and will be printed and distributed to every delegate at the start of the conference.

Hmm… when do the good times start to get groovy? 1

EDITORIAL: ALWAYS WINTER BUT NEVER CHRISTMAS 1

There’s constant talk about the ever-so imminent boom in energy storage but it doesn’t seem to be happening. This needs to be a core topic at this year’s convention.

VIEW FROM THE CHAIR 4

Andy Bush, head of ELBC organizer ILA, talks about the necessities of making this year’s ELBC unmissable. It is and will be. His co-organizer Alastair Davidson, director of the Consortium for Battery Innovation, discusses the themes and innovative progress that will be on the agenda this year.

NEWS AHEAD OF ELBC 2022

Batteries International looks at the news as we approach ELBC 2022. 8

THE CHINA PERSPECTIVE

How China’s battery tigers are helping Europe’s nascent battery industry roar. 24

A TUMULTUOUS DECADE — LEAD BATTERY BUSINESS, 2012-2022 30

To the outsider the lead battery business seems to be a tranquil landscape where nothing seems to change very rapidly. But to those in the know, the history of the battery is more a series of torrid episodes resembling scenes from Peyton Place than Little House on the Prairie! It’s also a strange industry. Competitive to its core but gracious in helping competitors when circumstances change.

VIEWPOINT: HOPPECKE: THE ROAD TO 2030 40

Marc Zoellner, head of battery firm Hoppecke, discusses the challenges and opportunities for sustainable battery development within European climate policy.

Andy Bush: “making this year an unmissable event” 4

Zoellner: looking for the bright spots in the years ahead 40

Publisher Karen Hampton karen@batteriesinternational.com +44 7792 852 337

Editor-in-Chief Michael Halls editor@batteriesinternational.com +44 7977 016 918

Editor John Shepherd john@batteriesinternational.com +44 7470 046 601 Advertising director Jade Beevor jade@batteriesinternational.com +44 1243 792 467

Finance administrator Juanita Anderson juanita@batteriesinternational.com +44 1 243 782 275

Researcher, journalist Hillary Christie hillary@batteriesinternational.com Production/design Antony Parselle, aparselledesign@me.com +44 1604 632 663

International advertising representation advertising@batteriesinternational.com

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