- Reducing the gigafactory risk by redesigning the solvent
Investing in a European battery gigafactory means accepting a different operating reality from day one. Energy costs are higher. Environmental and safety requirements are stricter. Permitting is slower. These constraints are well understood and largely unavoidable. What is less obvious is how much additional risk and cost are embedded in upstream material choices, particularly in battery …Continue reading “Reducing the gigafactory risk by redesigning the solvent”
- Why “drop-in” beats “breakthrough” in battery manufacturing
Battery manufacturing is a highly standardised industrial process. Once a gigafactory is designed, permitted, and financed, its priority is to operate reliably and predictably. Any change that affects equipment, safety systems, or process flow is treated as risk, because it can delay ramp-up, increase costs, or jeopardise product qualification. This is particularly visible in the use …Continue reading “Why “drop-in” beats “breakthrough” in battery manufacturing”
- What changes when you redesign the catalyst, rather than the factory?
Battery manufacturing has reached a high level of maturity. Cell formats are standardised, coating and drying processes are well understood, and production lines look broadly similar across regions. Modern gigafactories are no longer experimental facilities; they are capital-intensive industrial assets expected to meet strict timelines, cost targets, and reliability requirements. In this context, not all innovation …Continue reading “What changes when you redesign the catalyst, rather than the factory?”
- Europe’s chemical sector crisis — and why it matters for battery supply chains
Europe’s chemical industry is under structural pressure – production volumes are declining, assets are being idled, and new investments are increasingly directed outside the EU. This is often explained as a downturn driven by high energy prices and high competition from Asian suppliers. In reality, the issue is more fundamental — and it directly affects Europe’s …Continue reading “Europe’s chemical sector crisis — and why it matters for battery supply chains”
- Replacing one solvent could accelerate EU gigafactory deployment
Europe’s ambition to build a competitive battery manufacturing base is well established. Dozens of gigafactories have been announced, billions of euros committed, and industrial policy is being aligned around localisation. Yet deployment on the ground remains slower and more complex than expected. While electricity prices, permitting, and skilled labour are often cited as bottlenecks, a less …Continue reading “Replacing one solvent could accelerate EU gigafactory deployment”
- Battery chemicals and supply chain resilience: the missing layer in Europe’s battery strategy
Europe’s battery strategy is usually framed around gigafactories, cell chemistries, and electric vehicle targets. Capacity is measured in gigawatt-hours, and progress is judged by how many plants are announced or built. What receives far less attention is a layer of the value chain that has a disproportionate impact on cost, risk, and resilience: battery chemicals. Chemistry …
