A recent report by Transport & Environment (T&E) reveals that the European Union (EU) has the potential to cover up to 60% of its domestic demand for lithium for the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries by 2030. This would be possible if the construction of 19 new processing plants for key metals such as lithium, nickel, manganese and cobalt, essential for battery production, is approved.
Of the 19 mining projects identified in the report12 are focused exclusively on lithium, a crucial metal in the transition towards more sustainable mobility. According to the study, if all these projects materialise, the EU could not only meet 60% of its lithium demand for batteries and energy storage, but also 80% for all the metals analysed.
The report also highlights that, although nickel production is more limited, reaching less than a third of total demand, Finland is leading a globally innovative process that does not depend on fossil fuels, opening up new opportunities for more sustainable extraction of this resource.
In terms of battery recycling, T&E predicts that recovered lithium, nickel, cobalt and manganese could cover up to 40% of EU demand by 2030. This figure could rise to more than two-thirds by 2040, depending on the metal, provided efficient systems for collecting used batteries and recycling waste generated during production are put in place.
Despite this optimistic outlook, many of the projects are still in the early stages and require final investment decisions as well as obtaining the necessary permits. The report warns that the figures presented are projections based on a scenario in which all projects progress as planned.
Transport & Environment underlines that the EU has significant potential to meet its needs for essential metals for battery production, both through local mining and recycling. It also estimates that up to 20% of battery materials could come from recycling by 2030, which would help reduce dependence on imports of these metals and advance the continent’s energy transition.
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