Battery Industry Day, organized by the Institute of Solid State Physics at the University of Latvia, aimed at discussing ways to enhance collaboration between the scientific community and the battery industry. The event highlighted that the current battery manufacturing capacity in the world is sufficient to meet the projected demand in the coming years. However, it was noted that most batteries are currently produced in China, while Europe has about 40 companies planning to develop battery technologies in various areas.

Gints Kučinskis, head of the CFI Energy Materials Laboratory, emphasized the ongoing research in Latvia on the development of materials for lithium and sodium-ion batteries to make energy storage more environmentally friendly and powerful. He pointed out the challenge of balancing the demand for affordable, durable, and environmentally friendly batteries with the need for high-performance products. Kučinskis indicated that sometimes achieving high performance can conflict with environmental sustainability, showing the complexity of developing next-generation battery technologies.

This collaboration between scientific institutions and industry is crucial not only for Latvia's positioning in the European battery market but also for contributing to the global efforts on sustainable energy storage solutions. The discussions and initiatives coming out of events like Battery Industry Day are vital for fostering innovation and addressing challenges in battery technology, which is a key area of focus in tackling climate change and promoting renewable energy sources.