The EU is ‘stepping up its game on battery gigafactories’, European Commission executive VP Maroš Šefčovič said at the Giga Europe conference today (12 March).

We caught up with Birger Steen, CEO of lithium-ion gigafactory company Freyr Battery, about its recent decision to minimise European investments in light of the Inflation Reduction Act, discussing a potential policy response and its approach to ESS and using conventional technologies.

At World Smart Energy Week in Japan last week CATL, Jinkosolar and Sungrow exhibited battery storage products.

European member states are to bankroll dozens of projects to create new battery manufacturing solutions.

Whatever technology or strategy announcements come from Tesla’s Battery Day, speculation that the company will reduce purchases of battery cells from partners as a consequence is incorrect, CEO Elon Musk has said.

The company behind what looks set to be Norway’s first gigawatt-scale manufacturing facility for lithium-ion battery cells has secured pre-construction financing of NOK130 million (US$13.85 million) which it said will “enable rapid development” of the plant.

Germany-headquartered battery manufacturer Varta will receive €300 million (US$338 million) of government funding to develop large format lithium-ion cells, which has been deemed a project of potentially strategic interest for Europe.

The government of India has announced measures to promote new “Champion Sectors” of economic growth, including support incentives for advanced battery cell and solar PV manufacturing.