IIF: Batteries as key technology in transformation

4 april 2023

The International Investment Forum (IIF) will take place for the 7th time on May 10, 2023, with a focus on battery technology. We look at why innovative solution providers in this field are so important and which companies will be presenting.

By 2030, 32% of energy consumption within the European Union (EU) is to come from renewable sources, as required by law. The goals of many decision-makers are even higher. The reality, however, looks different: in 2021, only 21.8% of the electricity consumed came from solar, wind or other renewable sources. Since the EU adopted the 'REPowerEU' package of measures in June 2022, energy storage has become a top priority in Europe. After all, the aim is to make electricity usable when it is actually needed.

'The energy transition requires innovative solutions, especially in an industrialized country like Germany. Sun and wind deliver energy unreliably. To ensure a continuous supply of electricity, powerful batteries are needed,' explains Mario Hose, Managing Director of Apaton Finance GmbH, one of the co-organizers of the IIF, referring to different technological approaches: 'The market for battery technology is becoming increasingly differentiated, factors such as capacity, safety or even charging speed differ and make batteries attractive for different uses.'

At the 7th edition of the IIF, Altech Advanced Materials AG will present two innovative battery solutions. Together with the Fraunhofer Institute, the Heidelberg-based company is developing a solid-state battery that is suitable for stationary power storage and whose modules with a capacity of 10 kW can be flexibly coupled. Instead of lithium, common salt is used - therefore, Altech Advanced Materials does not see any risks concerning the security of supply with raw materials. The Company's second area of focus is the coating of anodes in batteries for electric cars. Altech has developed a process to apply aluminium oxide in wafer-thin layers. This process is expected to benefit the performance and durability of lithium-ion batteries in e-cars. Currently, the Company is advancing the construction of a pilot plant in Schwarze Pumpe, Saxony.

The second company at the IIF to score points for modern battery technology is Almonty Industries. The Canadian company mines tungsten in Portugal, among other places. The metal, primarily known for its use in filaments, is becoming increasingly important in batteries for electric cars. There, it can replace the controversial cobalt and help shorten charging cycles and expand capacities. In South Korea, in particular, the use of tungsten for batteries is a major topic. Almonty Industries is building one of the largest tungsten mines outside China in South Korea and aims to supply the battery industry with sustainably mined raw materials.

Manuel Hölzle, CEO of the research firm GBC AG, which is also a co-organizer of the IIF, adds: 'Innovative battery technology is one thing, but securing the necessary raw materials and establishing value chains for the industry is another. The May edition of the IIF will shed light on both challenges and give attendees the chance to ask industry decision-makers questions and learn background information. Only if investors are sensitized to the challenges of the future will it also be possible to identify solution providers that open up potential returns,' says Hölzle.