Can Europe recharge its battery industry?
Summary
Europe is trying to grow its battery industry but faces tough competition, especially from China. Some European companies like LeydenJar and Powall are developing new battery technologies at the very small scale of nanometers to make batteries last longer, charge faster, and be more efficient.Key Facts
- Sweden’s Northvolt and Norway’s Morrow, two European battery companies, recently filed for bankruptcy.
- Batteries are expected to be important as more transport and industries switch to electricity from fossil fuels.
- LeydenJar, a Dutch tech firm, uses plasma deposition to create ultra-thin silicon anodes, which can improve battery life, charging speed, and energy capacity by up to 50%.
- Pure silicon anodes usually crack because they expand and contract, but LeydenJar’s method prevents this.
- LeydenJar plans to start commercial production by the end of 2026 after more than 10 years of development.
- The Dutch city of Eindhoven, home to high-tech industries, supports LeydenJar’s work through its semiconductor ecosystem.
- Powall, another Dutch startup, uses atomic layer deposition to add nanocoatings to battery materials, which can slow battery aging and boost performance.
- Both companies show how techniques from semiconductor industries are being adapted to improve battery technology in Europe.
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