The RELiEF project (Horizon Europe GA 101069789), one of the most mature EU-funded projects in the Cluster Hub “Production of raw materials for batteries from European resources”, has published an open-access study evaluating the coherence of recent EU policies shaping the battery value chain.

The study focuses on the EU’s Green Deal Industrial Plan and related legislative pillars, such as:

• the Net-Zero Industry Act: aims for 40% of clean tech needs to be met by EU production by 2030.
• the Critical Raw Materials Act: seeks to secure EU’s supply of critical raw materials (lithium, cobalt).
• the EU Battery Regulation 2023: introduces strict lifecycle rules to promote circularity and sustainability.

Partners from RELiEF project engaged in discussions with various stakeholders across the battery value chain in Europe to understand the sentiment and the level of perception of these regulations. Their methodology circled around two main questions:

• Do these initiatives complement or contradict each other?
• How do stakeholders perceive these regulations and their feasibility?

These two questions revealed more than answers to these questions. While these policies share common goals, the RELiEF study outlines overlapping mandates and regulatory complexity that risk reducing attractiveness for investment and slowing industrial uptake.

These interactions allowed stakeholders  to express additional concerns about skills shortages and social acceptance. Cutting red tape and streamlined permitting remain road blockers for projects both in mining and recycling. Targets such as the NZIA’s 40 % clean tech production and CRMA’s 10 % domestic sourcing were seen as ambitious, while others, like the 15 % recycling goal, were considered feasible and relaxed. The call for more balanced policy objectives and realistic targets was a recurring topic.

The Cluster Hub’s annual workshops and bilateral meetings between projects created opportunities for the ReLIEF partners to engage with a variety of stakeholders in the battery sector. It facilitated collaboration and discussions between EU-funded projects, revealing a shared sentiment about the EU regulatory ecosystem and common barriers that risk slowing EU’s industrial competitiveness.

Read the full study

The webinar Africa ‘s role in CRM mining and refining ” co-organised by CICERO, LITHOS, ENICON, EXCEED,  AVANTIS  projects will take place online on 4th of June  2025.

The seminar will feature two insightful presentations from high level experts from Africa, Everjoy Muchefa Researcher & Process Engineer from University of Johannesburg and Professor Harmony Musiyarira, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST).

The presentations dedicated to critical aspects of the mining sector in Africa, provide insightful analysis. The first presentation offers a reflective examination of artisanal and small-scale mining of lithium-bearing minerals. It elucidates the current practices, socio-economic consequences, and regulatory framework governing this sector. The second presentation covers the broader prospects and challenges associated with sustainable mining practices in the region. It addresses environmental concerns, governance dilemmas, and the and the need for responsible resource management.

These sessions aim to foster a deeper understanding of Africa’s complex mining dynamics and stimulate dialogue on sustainable and inclusive mining pathways.

If you are interested, please register at the following link, until 2/6/2025: link registration.

The registered participants will receive an email with the Zoom link.

The webinar is co-organised by ENICON, EXCEED, CICERO, AVANTIS, LITHOS projects and will take place online on 29th of May 2025.

The seminar will prioritize international collaboration to foster global cooperation in CRM innovation and policy development. Two high level experts from USA – Prof. Z. Agioutantis (University of Kentucky) and Australia – Prof. G. Barakos (Curtin University) will emphasize the global perspective of CRM mining and research technologies.

More information

If you are interested, please register at the following link, until 27/5/2025. Registered participants will receive an email with the Zoom link.

Register here

Mark your calendars for 12 December 2024, when the third edition of the annual workshop of the Cluster Hub “Production of raw materials for batteries from European resources”.

The event will be hybrid. It will take place in Brussels, at Thon Hotel EU, Rue de la Loi 75, 1040. The number of seats is limited, and will be assigned on a first come first served policy. However, interested participants can attend online, upon registration with the LINK.

Batteries have been around for centuries, with successive technological advancements leading to major electrical leaps: from the early rise of telegraphs and telephones to the modern life ‘commodities’ such as consumer electronics, electric vehicles and healthcare.

Despite a policy context incentivising European stakeholders to build a climate-neutral society, this ambitious plan hinges on the electrification of two key industrial sectors – transport and energy – accounting together for 76 % of the EU’s GHG emissions. To meet the rising demand of batteries, Europe is looking for alternatives to reduce its dependency on battery imports and enhance its competitiveness in the global battery market. This push to re-industrialise Europe’s battery manufacturing is supported by technological advancements.

The Cluster Hub ‘Production of raw materials for batteries from European resources’ is organising the third edition of its annual workshop on 12 December 2024. With each edition, the hub plans to provide a comprehensive overview of the most promising technologies engaged in the production of raw materials for batteries, from raw materials mining to recycling.

Additional to the technical sessions which will present the most recent results from the member projects included in the EU-funded hub, the workshop will set off with an incursion across the European policy environment, introduced by representatives of the European Commission and BEPA.

Download the agenda

Who is the event dedicated to?

Any stakeholder interested in the R&I context in the battery sector, whether a representative of industry, cross-sector activities, research community or a policy-maker, is welcome to participate. Each session presenting results will be concluded with a dedicated Q&A slot, where participating attendees are invited to address questions.

Beyond presenting the latest results accomplished by our member projects, the event plans to open the stage to challenging discussions, ultimately aiming to identify opportunities for value creation within the European battery sector.

Disclaimer

The event will be recorded (audio & video) and pictures will be taken. Should participants have any objections, these should be addressed to the organisers.

Registration

The event is hybrid. On site participation is limited to the conference room capacity. Seats are limited and allocated to the first 40 participants expressing interest.

Register for on site participation

The event can also be attended online, using Teams platform. Registration is mandatory.

Register here for online participation

The RAWMINA Final Conference is an event focusing on the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRM) from mine waste within a circular economy framework. This two-day conference, held between 22 and 23 October, at the Casa de la Convalescència, Hospital Sant Pau in Barcelona, Spain, brings together leading researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and innovators to explore cutting-edge advancements in CRM recovery.

What to expect

• Tech Deep-dive Sessions
• Round Table Discussions
• Early Researchers’ Symposium
• Matchmaking Sessions & Funding Opportunities Workshops
• Clustering Sessions

This conference is a must-attend for anyone interested in groundbreaking CRM-recovery technologies, sustainable mining practices, or networking with key industry players.

Registrations are open until 8 October. Secure your spot now!

Register now

The Raw Materials Summit is a call-to-action – a platform – for industry leaders, educators and innovative new talent to share their vision for a sustainable raw materials future. The aim is to raise awareness of the critical role of raw materials, exchange knowledge and break down the barriers that delay sustainable value chains.

The event will take place this year at The Egg Brussels, Rue Bara 175, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, between 14 and 16 May.

The transition to clean energy means changing how we identify, source, use and re-use raw materials. We are all dependent on a sustainable raw materials supply and need to play an active role in the creation and maintenance of a responsible raw materials sector.