On 14th November 2024, the inaugural webinar for the BASE project took place, titled “Introducing BASE: Revolutionising Battery Supply Chains with the Digital Battery Passport (DBP).” This engaging session attracted audiences from various sectors, all eager to explore the transformative potential of the project in enhancing battery supply chains, with a keen focus on sustainability and transparency.
An overview of the Webinar
The webinar commenced with the welcome speech from Dr. Shahin Jamali, Head of Monitoring and Artificial Intelligence at Fraunhofer IEG, and Coordinator of the BASE Project. Dr. Jamali introduced the BASE project, which stands for Battery Passport for Resilient Supply Chain and Implementation of Circular Economy, emphasising its overarching aim to revolutionise the battery industry by ensuring comprehensive traceability and circular economy practices throughout the entire battery lifecycle.
Dr. Jamali provided an insightful overview of the project, noting that it is part of the Horizon Europe initiative. Launched on 1st June 2024, the project is set to run for 36 months and has a substantial budget of approximately €8.9 million, with around €6.1 million funded by the European Union. He highlighted the collaboration of 19 esteemed partners, including- Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, Beeplanet Factory SL, Adscensus MB, Parakeet BV, INND Batteries BV, Ford Otomotiv Sanayi A.S., Artech International, Corvus Energy AS, Mercedes-Benz Türk A.S., Seraph Consulting Limited, Rok Metals Sarl, Aspilsan Enerji Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., Navtek Deniz Teknolojisi A.S., European Lithium Institute (eLi), Exitcom Recycling A.S., Fondation pour l’Institut des Hautes Études Internationales et du Développement (IHEID), SQM SA, Technovative Solutions Ltd., and University of Surrey. The project's goal is to develop, validate, and implement a digital battery passport (DBP) that aligns with EU regulations while enhancing the resilience and sustainability of battery supply chains.
Dr. Jamali elaborated on the project's scope, which includes real-world demonstrations through four use cases involving electric vehicles and stationary applications. He underscored the importance of establishing a digital framework that fosters transparency, promotes compliance, and supports the prioritisation of sustainable practices within the battery sector.
From EU Regulations to Real-World Impact: the Journey and Solution Behind the Digital Battery Passport
The floor was next taken by Sohag Salauddin, the Head of Product at Technovative Solutions Limited (TVS). He provided a comprehensive overview of the Digital Battery Passport, discussing its critical role in promoting sustainability and regulatory compliance within the battery industry.
Sohag articulated the essential elements of the Digital Battery Passport (DBP), which is designed to collect and disseminate key data about battery products throughout their lifecycle, particularly focusing on sustainability, environmental impact, and recyclability. He explained that the DBP aims to enhance transparency and traceability, addressing longstanding issues within the production industry.
Sohag outlined a clear timeline for the implementation of the Digital Product Passport (DPP), indicating that EU regulations requiring its use would come into effect by early 2027. He noted that the DPP's influence would extend across the entire supply chain, requiring comprehensive collaboration from material suppliers to end consumers.
In addressing how data would be managed within this framework, Sohag explained the advantages of a decentralised data management system, ensuring security and accessibility during the battery lifecycle. He emphasised that various stakeholders would have appropriate levels of access based on their roles, thereby facilitating effective data governance.
BASE: Beyond the Horizon – Shaping the Future of Battery Innovation and Commercialisation
The final presentation was delivered by Marianna Ralikova, Director of Business Development at Seraph. In her segment, she explored how battery innovation could evolve in conjunction with the Digital Battery Passport, shifting from mere regulatory compliance to creating new opportunities and business models.
Marianna discussed the three critical elements of innovation: full traceability, optimised lifespan, and high recyclability. She asserted that these elements must harmonise to enable manufacturers to maximise control over the battery lifecycle, from sourcing raw materials to end-of-life recycling.
By leveraging insights derived from data analysis, Marianna included that the DBP could revolutionise supply chain practices, fostering collaboration among different stakeholders through the sharing of metrics and circularity credits. She highlighted the potential for the DBP to serve not only as a tool for transparency but also as a catalyst for innovation across the battery ecosystem.
Engaging Q&A Session
The Q&A session at the end of the webinar provided a platform for engaging with the audience on several crucial aspects regarding the BASE project.
The first inquiry was on whether battery analytics tool providers should offer operators an updated battery passport for each battery managed. Dr. Shahin Jamali explained that the DBP is developed in a modular format, allowing for easy collaboration and integration without the need for complex processes.
The second question posed about how security protocols would be established for the data associated with the DBP. Sohag Salauddin responded to the question by outlining the use of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) for data storage to ensure immutability and security. Data would be hosted across multiple locations to prevent any single point of failure.
Another participant was keen to know how the project would ensure the quality and accuracy of the recollected data. Sohag stated that they are addressing the challenge by empowering certified users to input data, and validating the data within the system which is discussable with the policymakers.
The next question addressed how Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) could prioritise their actions to meet both current and upcoming regulations. Mariana suggested that OEMs should prioritise their actions to meet immediate and future regulations. Companies can either view regulations as isolated requirements or as part of their long-term transformation strategy. Adapting strategy and data infrastructure is crucial for compliance. Using DBP requires sourcing, procurement, testing, and alignment of processes and data. Starting early ensures readiness by February 2027.
The final question sought to understand whether the project has considered issuing certificates to individuals to become trusted users of the data system. Sohag confirmed discussions with one of the largest furniture makers in the UK and exporters into the EU regarding the issue. Similar to the manufacturer, other OEMs and the economic operators, to repair their products, are already implementing the certification processes.
Conclusion
The inaugural BASE webinar successfully illuminated the project's ambitious objectives while fostering a vibrant dialogue among industry professionals regarding the future of battery supply chains. The insights shared throughout the presentations and Q&A session emphasised the necessity of collaboration, transparency, and innovation in achieving sustainable practices in the battery sector.
For those who were unable to attend the live session, the recorded version of the webinar is now available for viewing on YouTube. For continued updates and information about the BASE project, please visit our website. You may also subscribe to our newsletter or follow our social media channels for the latest news and developments.
BASE is a 3-year long project being under the call ”HORIZON-CL5-2023-D2-02-03: Creating a digital passport to track battery materials, optimise battery performance and life, validate recycling, and promote a new business model based on data sharing (Batt4EU Partnership).” This project has received funding from the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON) Research and Innovation Actions under grant agreement No 101157200.