We have often talked about sustainable energy and the need to gradually reduce the use of fossil fuels in favour of renewable resources. Hundreds of projects around the world are moving in this direction. What about Italy? What is our country doing to achieve its sustainability goals for the coming years? One of the most important initiatives in this sense has been the creation of the Italian Battery Alliance, a technological platform created with the support of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE).
The Italian Battery Alliance
This project aims at accelerating the energy transition while at the same time boosting the competitiveness of national industries. The platform is open to the participation of the most diverse stakeholders, from companies to researchers, from universities to associations. The Italian Battery Alliance aims to be one of the key players involved in the process of change, coordinating and facilitating research, innovation, and the implementation of sustainable energy solutions. The participation of stakeholders in the most relevant European initiatives in this field will also be facilitated and encouraged, and access to various funding opportunities for renewable energy projects and in particular for storage technologies will be simplified and encouraged.
Battery research is more important than we think
Those outside the renewable energy industry may not be aware of this, but research on batteries (such as those used for electric cars) still has a long way to go to achieve sustainability. It is not only a question of making the batteries themselves more efficient and durable and the production processes more sustainable but also of designing products that can be disposed of at the end of their lifecycle without damaging the environment. Today’s batteries are not yet performing adequately and research in this area is considered to be one of the major challenges for the near future.
The European scenario
The Italian Battery Alliance is not the first platform of its kind in Europe; indeed, it is part of a very broad and developed discourse involving several countries. The aim of the project is also to connect with existing projects, to create positive synergies, and further stimulate research also through relations with industry and investors. Innovation, after all, is the key to success in this field. Similar programs already exist in Germany, France, and Slovakia.