Ron Stoop

Research Fellow - Climate and Energy Economics at the Centre for European Reform

[Centre for European Reform (CER) @CER_EU]

About 75% of EU battery manufacturing capacity is owned by non-EU firms. The EU should stay open to trusted partners like South Korea, Japan & India, but also invest in EU-owned #battery capacity.

New @CER_EU insight by @RonStoop1
Read here: https://t.co/fzmm2ZUJ1p

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

Read the full analysis in the link below.

https://t.co/G2tzAHbMyd

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

No matter how many times I see this figure, it still hurts.

It clearly shows that the EU does not lack ambition, but it fails to execute.

/1. 🧵

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

Based on my analysis of the sector I’ve written a piece that sketches a way out for the European battery industry. But it requires courageous political action.

/3.

[Centre for European Reform (CER) @CER_EU]

“We should not make the same mistake as in semicon & end up with less than 10% of cell production in Europe. The companies here have their headquarters in other countries & they can turn the switch off overnight.”

@MustafaAmhaouch told @RonStoop1 https://t.co/daOWWf6ufZ

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

@visaskn In a way pretty much every comparison between industry in the EU and China is not a fair one, agreed. But China allowed its companies to become race horses. Europe lacks such patience.

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

We need to talk about China speed vs. Euro speed.

On the left: Cornex’s 70 GWh battery plant in Xiangyang, which went from signed deal to production in 11 months.

On the right: Northvolt Ett in Skellefteå, Europe’s flagship battery plant, which took four years /1.🧵

[Centre for European Reform (CER) @CER_EU]

The Net Zero Industry Act aims for 550 GWh of EU #battery production. Current capacity is 285 GWh. Stalled & unfinished projects could close the gap, but only with local content rules in public procurement & temp production subsidies.

New by @RonStoop1 https://t.co/fzmm2ZUJ1p

[PubAffairs EU Debates, News & Opinions 🇪🇺 @PubAffairsEU]

[Insight] #EUIndustry: How the #EU can rescue its battery industry, by @RonStoop1 | @CER_EU
https://t.co/Dj73trqllM

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

Cornex built a plant more than four times Northvolt’s capacity in a quarter of the time. If Europe wants a battery industry (or any industry for that matter), speed of execution has to become an absolute policy priority. /4.

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

China is far more than subsidies and cheaper labour: it has implementation speed.

Permits, land, grid connection and construction happen at the same time: local authorities had the site cleared and permitted within 44 days of signing.

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

Link to piece: https://t.co/DzursAhGvM

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

NEW SUBSTACK: A small change in the Industrial Accelerator Act might have large consequences for Europe's battery sector.

Local content requirements have been weakened under the Franco-German proposal.

If not amended, many battery projects in Europe will be at risk.

[Centre for European Reform (CER) @CER_EU]

“Producing #batteries in Europe is something else than producing European batteries, with our own technology and our own value chain.”

@MustafaAmhaouch told @RonStoop1 in the latest #CERpodcast Unpacking Europe.

Listen here: https://t.co/daOWWf6ufZ

[Centre for European Reform (CER) @CER_EU]

In 2022, European firms announced huge new battery factories. Since 2024, 559 GWh of projects have been cancelled and Northvolt has gone bankrupt, while China ramped up aggressively.

[Centre for European Reform (CER) @CER_EU]

Read why Europe’s batteries risk following its solar panels: from 40% of global capacity in 2008 to about 1% today in @RonStoop1's new @CER_EU insight: https://t.co/fzmm2ZUJ1p

[Centre for European Reform (CER) @CER_EU]

China makes more than 80% of the world’s #battery cells & the EU risks total dependence. Europe can still keep a foothold by supporting existing manufacturers, partnering with trusted middle powers & investing in next-generation storage.
New by @RonStoop1 https://t.co/fzmm2ZUJ1p

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

6/ The EU sorely needs module and cell capacity, and in the future it also will need wafer and polysilicon production capacity in order to become less dependent on China-dominated supply chains.

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

1/ The French are planning a new solar factory with Chinese technology. 🧵

[Ron Stoop @RonStoop1]

5/ However, having some European production capacity, even if based on Chinese technology, is still better than nothing.