Japan and EU start cooperation to strengthen battery supply!

Japan and EU start cooperation to strengthen battery supply!

What is going on between Japan and Europe? In an exciting development, Japan and the European Union (EU) are entering into a comprehensive partnership to strengthen rechargeable battery supply chains. This cooperation was sealed on Monday with the signing of a memorandum by industry groups from both sides, and it coincides with the visit of Stephane Sejourne, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, to Japan. The focus is particularly on recycling in the battery sector, which not only makes ecological sense but is also intended to reduce economic dependencies on China.

How important is the topic for the economy? The initiative is the first joint action under the Japan-EU Competition Alliance, which was launched in July. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will meet Sejourne on Tuesday to deepen cooperation and discuss strengthening Japan-EU supply chains. A key concern is to reduce dependence on Chinese batteries, which currently make up around 60% of the market. In 2015, Japanese manufacturers still held a 50% market share in automotive batteries - a radical change.

Collaboration for sustainable recycling

Japan and Europe want to combine their strengths in the field of battery recycling. Another goal of this cooperation is the introduction of a common recycling system by 2025, which is intended to facilitate the exchange of information about raw material sources for battery production. In addition to the memorandum from the Japanese Information Technology Agency (IPA) and European partners, the aim is also to connect two existing data systems. Japan's platform, the Ouranos Ecosystem, includes around 50 companies, including household names like Toyota and Nissan. On the European side, the already active Catena-X platform is available under the management of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The connection of both platforms is intended to improve material traceability, which is of central importance in times of increasing EU environmental protection regulations and laws.

Growing recycling capacities in Europe

Signs point to growth in terms of recycling capacity: current reports show that Europe could process over 400,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries annually by 2026. Hydrometallurgy plays a central role here, while other methods such as pyrolysis are still rarely used. In view of the increasing demand and the EU requirements for the recycling rate for battery materials, the infrastructure is constantly being expanded.

• Aktuelle Verarbeitungskapazitäten (Q2 2025):
  

  Location type	Capacity (tons/year)
  Hubs	approximately 290,000
  Spokes	approximately 270,000

• Perspektiven bis 2030:
  – Geplante Gesamtkapazität für das Refinement könnte 820.000 Tonnen/Jahr erreichen.

Given ongoing developments and the constant adjustment of market conditions, Europe expects that cooperation with Japan will not only strengthen recycling initiatives, but also improve access to vital raw materials. The joint effort to reduce dependencies and find sustainable solutions seems to be an attractive business that promises benefits for everyone involved.

In summary, it can be said that the cooperation between Japan and the EU in battery technology and recycling represents a coherent step towards becoming more ecologically and economically independent. With the planned introduction and implementation of these joint initiatives, both sides are optimistic about the future.

Interested readers can find further details about the collaboration in the articles by Asianews, Battery News and Fraunhofer ISI.