Blue Solutions
Blue Solutions est la société qui regroupe les activités de stockage d’électricité développées par le Groupe Bolloré.
ID: 452735627624-04
Lobbying Activity
Response to Modernising the EU’s batteries legislation
19 Jun 2020
To achieve the European Green Deal, a 90% reduction in transport emissions is needed by 2050 (compared to 1990) and road transport will have to move to zero emissions beyond 2025 which will only become possible with a massive uptake of battery electric vehicles. Therefore, success in the European EV revolution is heavily dependent on the success of Europe’s up and coming battery industry. Only with clear focus and political will, can Europe fully enhance the benefits of a home-grown industry, bringing economic value, jobs and sustainability as a part of the energy transition.
The EU battery cells industry a highly strategical sector exposed to competition. A responsible approach to this industrial and transportation revolution must ensure a sustainable model for battery manufacturing that also supports the European industry and incentivises a responsible use of active materials. However, that approach cannot end with manufacturing. Instead, it must extend to raw and active materials, carbon footprint and end of life of batteries as fundamental aspects of electromobility and storage.
Therefore, developing a circular and low-carbon strategy is required to unlock the capacity of batteries to contribute to the realisation of the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
A circular economy approach, allowing at the same time the security of supply of raw materials notably through the recycling of active materials and high environmental and social values in the manufacturing process should be incentivized to promote a sustainable EU battery industry. Building a complete industrial European value chain on batteries, including recycling, requires a clear strategy set and agreed for active and critical raw materials (CRM).
Blue Solutions recalls the necessity to give access to the EU market to “sustainable” batteries only, as established by the EU Strategic action plan on batteries, published in May 2018.
We cannot at the same time advocate for a green economy and decide to not take any action on this particular aspect of the social and environmental content of batteries.
Because batteries account for 20 to 40% of the CO2 content of an electric vehicle (with the majority of this being released during the cells production phase), to maximize the environmental impact of electromobility, the EU should put in place a favorable framework to support the commercialisation of clean batteries (CO2 content inferior to 150 kg eq CO2 / kWh only on the UE market). A mere information for the consumer will not be enough to address carbon neutrality objectives.
The European Commission must also acknowledge that, as electricity mix is a key factor determining the total carbon footprint, hourly based supplier contracts or the national electricity mix in the country of pro
IN A NUTHSELL
The EU needs a 360° approach in the EU from raw material extraction, battery components and manufacturing to recycling, in one regulation, providing that we:
• Clarify the qualification of end-of life batteries to be sent for recycling: non- waste for batteries remaining in the EU.
• Distinguish the recycling of the casing form the recycling of valuable active materials and set recovery rates for major battery metals: nickel, cobalt, lithium, copper
• Promote market access for batteries with lower environmental and social impacts:
o The CO2 content objectives for the batteries placed on the EU market (reserved market shares using the same methodology used for vehicles) and ban “dirty battery” (over 150 kg eq CO2 / kWh)
o Incentivize the use of recycled raw materials in new batteries using CO2 targets cradle to grave
o Make batteries PoM comply with: ISO standard 14001 on environmental management, ILO conventions, ISO 14001:2015 on workers’ rights and Directive 2014/95/EU which requires extra financial reporting for battery companies over 500 employees.
Read full responseMeeting with Thierry Breton (Commissioner) and
18 Jun 2020 · Battery : future developments and role in the mobility ecosystem
Meeting with Ivo Schmidt (Cabinet of Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič)
27 Sept 2018 · Electromobility
Meeting with Silvia Bartolini (Cabinet of Vice-President Miguel Arias Cañete)
13 Jul 2017 · Batteries
Meeting with Dunja Perko (Cabinet of Commissioner Violeta Bulc)
13 Jul 2017 · Meeting with the CEO