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How to Build a Sustainable Battery Ecosystem—TogetherHow to Build a Sustainable Battery Ecosystem—Together

A Siemens' battery-industry expert discussed global challenges and the need for cooperation in a keynote address at The Battery Show Europe.

Michael C. Anderson, Editor-in-Chief, Battery Technology

July 2, 2024

3 Min Read
Digitalized battery production
Siemens argues for efficient digitalized large-scale production of batteries in a global ecosystem.Siemens

There’s a vast difference between battery development and battery production. The discovery and refinement that happens through R&D and prototyping is important—but developing a great new product is only an early step in the long slog of successfully getting the product into full production. As Battery Technology covers cutting-edge battery research, we note the exciting developments coming out of research labs—but we take some engineers’ assurances that their project “is sure to revolutionize the industry” with a grain of salt.

The challenges of getting cutting-edge battery developments into full production and into the devices of customers are daunting for startups and entrenched manufacturers alike. The need is not only profitability but assured quality in a smart, sustainable production environment. The unemployment roles surely include creative engineers and entrepreneurs who didn’t understand this.

In June, Cam Elver, head of business development for the battery sector at Siemens, delivered a keynote address at The Battery Show Europe that looked at these challenges, emphasizing the importance of building a sustainable battery ecosystem—and of working together.

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Elver highlighted that achieving the full potential of battery technology requires global scale and collaboration. "A strong ecosystem of partners is essential," Elver noted, stressing that the battery industry faces unique challenges that must be addressed simultaneously across technological, commercial, political, and demographic fronts.

Related:Siemens & Voltaiq: Innovative Battery Manufacturing Collaboration

Scaling up and standardization

One of the central themes of Elver's presentation was the necessity of scaling up battery production while maintaining high yields and low costs. He discussed Siemens' role in supporting the industry through various stages of the value chain, from design to production and recycling. "Delivering the products on time and scaling up with good yields is a tremendous challenge," he said. Elver also highlighted the importance of standardization, which he described as "an incredibly powerful enabler for any large-scale project."

Standardization, according to Elver, involves clear definitions of specifications and requirements across machine, building, communication, and network levels. Siemens has developed a battery automation framework that includes libraries, programming blocks, and visualization templates to enhance efficiency and consistency in engineering projects. "Standardization is the foundation for any type of IT/OT connectivity and data-driven solutions," he added.

Related:10 Solutions We’re Excited to See at Battery Show Europe 2024

Innovation in production and circularity

Elver provided examples of Siemens' innovations in the battery manufacturing space, including high-performance cell assembly and sheet-level traceability. The latter, a notable advancement, uses data from various sources to create a unique fingerprint for each section of the battery material, enabling end-to-end traceability and root cause analysis. "This solution is not just for traceability; it provides a synchronized stack of different data types for quality control without the need for physical markers," Elver explained.

Moving on to circularity, Elver emphasized the need for scalable end-of-life solutions as battery production scales up. He introduced Siemens' battery passport and adaptive recycling technologies. The battery passport collects and aggregates data such as structure and carbon footprint for each cell, facilitating efficient recycling. Adaptive recycling employs a 3D scanner to detect screw points and fastening types, ensuring safe and effective dismantling of batteries. "This is the foundation for a scalable recycling solution and is crucial for operator safety," Elver stated.

Commitment to global support

By addressing the multifaceted challenges of the battery industry through innovation, standardization, and global cooperation, companies can build a sustainable and scalable battery ecosystem that can meet the demands of the future. Siemens is excited to be part of that ecosystem, Elver noted. He concluded by reaffirming Siemens' commitment to global cooperation and support throughout the entire project lifecycle. He expressed optimism about the strengthening partnerships within the industry. "Our commitment to you is that we will support globally, wherever you are with your project, and we will be with you throughout the entire process," Elver finished.

About the Author

Michael C. Anderson

Editor-in-Chief, Battery Technology, Informa Markets - Engineering

Battery Technology Editor-in-Chief Michael C. Anderson has been covering manufacturing and transportation technology developments for more than a quarter-century, with editor roles at Manufacturing Engineering, Cutting Tool Engineering, Automotive Design & Production, and Smart Manufacturing. Before all of that, he taught English and literature at colleges in Japan and Michigan.

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