8 August 2024:

Batteries Regulation imposes an obligation that every flow battery placed on the European market should have a Carbon Footprint Declaration, yet there is currently no common calculation methodology available.

In light of this, Flow Batteries Europe (FBE) proposes to establish a working group on the development of a carbon footprint calculation methodology for flow batteries. 

FBE hosted a Strategic Decision Webinar, during which the carbon footprint calculation expert explained project management, timeline, deliverables, and costs.  

Why does the flow battery industry need to join this working group?  

To develop an accurate carbon footprint calculation methodology for flow batteries, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the scientific body of the European Commission, expects active participation from the flow battery sector.  

We are actively seeking involvement from the entire flow battery industry, including suppliers, research organisations, and manufacturers, to join our working group and help shape carbon footprint rules, thereby maintaining industry credibility and competitiveness.  

Benefits of joining this working group are the following:  

  • Empowers you to influence the development of carbon footprint calculation rules.  
  • Helps ensure that the final rules are tailored to meet the specific requirements of the flow battery industry.  
  • Prepares your business for the introduction of the Carbon Footprint Declaration by analysing existing databases, the data gathering process, examples of software usage, and other necessary processes.   
  • It will also help identify weak points in product development, giving you the opportunity to choose better materials and design features that lead to more environmentally efficient products and technologies. 
  • Enables you to maintain direct contact with key European flow battery industry players and EU institutions.  

The carbon footprint calculation rules will influence the whole flow battery industry. It is time now to decide if we as an industry want to take a lead on crucial decisions and guide policymakers on the methodology development or leave it the hands of third parties. 

Should the flow battery industry fail to unite, as the li-ion battery stakeholders did for this project, there’s a significant risk that the final rules will not be adapted to our industry’s needs. Who should decide on how to calculate the carbon footprint of flow batteries?  

How to take part in the working group?

If you would like to join the project, please sign and send back a Letter of Commitment to Beata Virsumirska, FBE Policy Officer. Email b.virsumirska@flowbatterieseurope.eu

Who can take part in the Working Group? 

We’re still looking for more flow battery stakeholders (suppliers, research organisations, and manufacturers) to join the Working Group to ensure comprehensive and accurate rules are created. See the various stakeholders who have already officially committed to the project below.