BRUSSELS, 19 June, 2018 – Today, 19 June 2018, the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Chemistry (SusChem) is publishing two white papers outlining the future research and innovation requirements for Battery Energy Storage technologies and the technology and non-technology requirements for integrating Polymer Composites fully into the Circular Economy.
The two papers are designed to stimulate debate on future research and innovation programmes, including Horizon Europe, in the two areas. Both papers have been produced by expert teams for SusChem and give a view of the current market, the technologies and the opportunities and challenges ahead.
In both cases a through-the-value-chain holistic European innovation programme is needed, an approach that SusChem has championed before in response to other complex societal challenges.
Battery Storage
The ‘Battery Energy Storage’ paper investigates the current state of battery storage technologies in Europe, the main challenges, and suggests actions for the future. The paper builds on the views of stakeholders in the European battery value chain and, in particular, the chemical industry and raw material suppliers.
“The increase of Renewable Energy Sources has highlighted the next challenge: storage of energy when demand is lower than the supply. Among the different technologies, batteries have the highest cost reduction potential now. The growing need for European energy independence and security pushes for more 'in-house' developments and installation. European players should focus on developing battery cell production capacity in Europe in order to complete the value chain and allow a full integration, from material to final batteries,” comments Anne.-Chloe Devic, coordinator of the SusChem Materials Working Group.
Composites for circularity
The ‘Polymer Composites Circularity’ paper examines the technology and non-technology requirements to ensure that these advanced materials, that are featuring in an increasing number of applications, can be successfully integrated into the circular economy.
“The growing demand of polymer composites, together with the increase in number of applications raises the question: what will happen to all the composite waste that is generated either from production or end-of-life parts? Although significant efforts have been made in Europe, including the Circular Economy Package and, in particular, its Plastics Strategy, the fibre-reinforced polymer space is not really included in the focus as yet, Developing and ensuring a systematic circular ecosystem for these materials needs to be a priority,” commented Anne-Chloe Devic
The two papers will be available and discussed at the SusChem Annual Stakeholder event (#SUSCHEM2018) to be held on 20 June in Brussels.
You can download the two papers here:
Both papers were authored by the SusChem Materials Working Group in collaboration with international consultants Bax & Company.
MORE INFORMATION: For more details, please visit the SusChem website or contact directly Ellen Mulder, Cefic communication manager for research and innovation, at emu@cefic.be.
Note to editors
SusChem is joint initiative between Cefic, DECHEMA, EuropaBio, GDCh, ESAB and RSC that has the objective to revitalise and inspire European chemistry and industrial biotechnology research, development, and innovation in a sustainable.
About SusChem
In 2004, SusChem was launched as a European Commission supported initiative to revitalize and inspire European chemistry and industrial biotechnology research, development and innovation in a sustainable way.
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