Powering the Future: Lithium & Battery Material Supply Chains in Europe

Europe’s battery sector stands at a pivotal moment, grappling with complex challenges and the urgent need for strategic solutions to support its energy transition. The session addresses the fragility of current supply chains, highlighting critical dependencies on imported materials—especially from China—and the vulnerabilities these pose to Europe's long-term resilience. Shortages of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese, combined with environmental concerns and local opposition to mining, emerged as significant barriers to scaling domestic production.

Regulatory uncertainty and fragmented policies across EU member states are impediments to coherent action, while the race for technological innovation sometimes overlooks sustainability and community impact. Public perception and social license for extraction activities also pose hurdles, with trust gaps between industry and local populations becoming increasingly evident.