Poland ranks fifth in the world and first in Europe in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and hybrids. Only China, South Korea, the USA and Japan are ahead of us. Will Poland be able to maintain a strong position in this industry?
The topic of Poland’s role in the industry is raised on the pages of the Institute for Automotive Market Research Samar. As we read, during the New Mobility Congress in Łódź, representatives of the “battery” industry indicated that the Polish public administration should intensify its efforts to encourage new investments in our country, including cells and batteries.
Dozens of new factories will be built.
Ilona Antonishin from Volkswagen Group Polska recalled that most of the products of the Polish automotive industry are related to components for cars with an internal combustion engine. - Currently, Europe is looking for a place for 25 battery projects. We must create sufficiently attractive conditions to attract these investments to Poland. Unfortunately, the industry is in a permanent crisis. Due to the lack of necessary components, our factories are suspending production. We need more flexibility in terms of working hours and the implementation of relevant legislative changes - said Ilona Antonishin.
In turn, Dr. Grzegorz Ombach, vice president of Airbus, said that within 10 years the battery market will grow 50 times if certain conditions are met, mainly regarding access to green energy, qualified personnel and reformed legislation. Adrian Ciesielski, spokesman for LG Energy Solution Wrocław, the company that launched Europe’s largest lithium-ion cell plant in Kobierzyce near Wrocław, stressed that public administration should not only focus on attracting new investment to Poland, but also on securing production activity. be carried out unhindered. The industry has emphasized the key role of access to qualified employees to ensure the dynamic development of the business.
Recycling is just as important
The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that the global fleet of electric vehicles could increase from 11 million in 2021 to 190 million in 2030. Such an amount will cause an avalanche-like increase in demand for raw materials. The IEA predicts that by 2030 global demand for lithium will grow six times, which will require the commissioning of 50 new medium-sized mines. In an era of disrupted supply chains, rising raw material prices and limited resources, meeting the needs of the electric vehicle market will make the recycling and reuse of lithium-ion batteries more important. - The biggest problem for the battery sector is the required materials and the need to use a lot of energy for production. In Asia, recycling of lithium-ion batteries has grown significantly in recent years thanks to government support. In the future, nickel, cobalt and lithium will be increasingly difficult to mine. That’s why increasing recycling capacity is such an important issue - said Peter Ma, president of Capchem.
Source: Wprost
