The regulations prepared by the European Commission may constitute a serious threat to Polish lithium-ion batteries factories. The Wednesday edition of "Business Puls" presented details of the possible effects of these regulations, which according to the paper are the consequence of French lobbying.
Amendments to the Battery Regulation
One of the key implementing acts for the alleged battery regulation is the 1 concerning the calculation of the carbon footprint of batteries produced for electrical vehicles. At the final phase of the consultation, an amendment was introduced that provides that the coal footprint calculation will take into account the structure of energy production in a given country and not only the energy utilized by the battery company itself.
Effects on Poland and another Countries
This change favours producers from associate States that already benefit mainly from renewable energy or atomic energy, specified as France. In practice, this closes the way for fresh investments in Poland and another countries, where energy production is inactive mostly based on fossil fuels. According to the Business Puls, this amendment is the consequence of intensive lobbying of France, which is 1 of the largest European battery manufacturers.
Position of Poland in the Battery Market
Poland is 1 of the largest producers of lithium-ion batteries in the world, and the largest electrical car cell mill in Europe is located in Poland. The introduction of fresh regulations could importantly affect this sector of the economy, reducing the competitiveness of Polish factories on the European market.
The reaction of the Polish Government
The Polish Ministry of improvement and Technology has already responded to these changes, addressing Commissioner for the interior marketplace and Services, Thierry Breton. It proposes that the methodology for calculating the carbon footprint of batteries reflect the actual energy mix utilized by the factory, including energy acquisition contracts and guarantees of the origin of energy from renewable sources. The amendments to the government are besides supported by Germany, which may indicate broad support for a more differentiated approach to the calculation of the carbon footprint.
Summary
The fresh regulations proposed by the European Commission may have far-reaching effects on Polish producers of lithium-ion batteries. The introduction of rules favouring countries with developed infrastructure of renewable energy sources could reduce improvement and investment in Poland. However, the reaction of the Polish government and the support from Germany show that the fight for fair and sustainable regulations is inactive ongoing.
Daniel Głogowski
Expert in his field – Publicist, author and social activist. The first articles were published in 1999 for global publishers. For more than 30 years, he has gained his experience through cooperation with the largest editorial offices. In his articles, he seeks to address controversial topics and present first viewpoints that allowed for a deeper knowing of the issues discussed.
Read more:
New EU regulations The threat to Polish lithium-ion batteries factories
