Tomorrow, the first edition of Battery & Energy Storage Tech Europe kicks off at the Fira de Barcelona, bringing together on the 8th and 9th more than a hundred companies, institutions, and associations, and over 70 international experts in the field of energy storage and batteries. The new congress aims to boost innovation, knowledge, and collaboration in a sector that is strategic for industrial competitiveness and the European energy transition.
On September 8 and 9, Gran Via will become the meeting point for the leading European players involved in energy storage and battery-related technologies. Organized by Fira de Barcelona, the fair aims to connect industry, research, public administrations, and sectoral entities to discuss the major challenges and opportunities in a field that is strategic for the continent’s economic future.
The program will address some of the main challenges that will condition the growth of an industry worth nearly €58 billion and that is expected to play a central role in Europe’s industrial strategy over the coming decades. Specifically, the agenda will be structured around the following major thematic axes: industrial and emerging applications; BESS technologies (Battery Energy Storage Systems); recycling and second life; high-performance batteries and new chemistries; next-generation technologies; policy and regulation; and funding.
Beyond large-scale storage, the program will devote space to high-performance applications in sectors such as space, aviation, or rail, alongside debates on intelligent battery management, sustainable system design, investment in new chemistries (high-density lithium, sodium-ion, solid-state), and the development of a more autonomous and competitive European battery industry.
Business, institutional, and academic profiles
Among the confirmed speakers are Christian Barba of EDP Renewables; Naim El Chami of Neoen; Pablo Fernández-Santos of Basquevolt; Graeme Purdy of Ilika; Veeral Hardev of Blue Current; and Alex Cipolla of the Volta Foundation.
In terms of institutional representation, notable are Jordi García Brustenga, Secretary of State for Industry of the Government of Spain; José Moisés Martín, Director General of CDTI; Mikel Irujo, Councillor of Industry and Ecological Transition for the Navarre regional government; and Darío Moreno, mayor of Sagunto, among others.
Associative representatives will also participate, such as Bozorg Khanbaei, Executive Director of BEPA; Jean Louis Cols, Vice President of Flow Batteries Europe. Simon Steffgen, Industry Lead of BVES; Nicolas Furio, Head of Innovation for Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking; Sonja Risteka, Head of the Battery Storage Platform at SolarPower Europe; and Francisco Carranza, a member of the supervisory board of the Upcell Alliance.
The scientific and technological realm will also carry considerable weight in the program, with experts such as Laura Simonelli from the ALBA synchrotron; Leire Zubizarreta from ITE; Óscar Miguel from CIDETEC; and Pol Torres from Eurecat. The program will also examine issues related to innovation management, applying artificial intelligence to energy, and the development of new storage solutions aimed at accelerating the energy transition.
The major players in the sector
The event will feature an expo area where more than 50 companies and entities will participate, including Omron, Monolithic Power Systems, Gamma Technologies, Farnell Global, Relats, Battech, Halide Energy, Alvatek, and LiCAP. They will be joined by other organizations keen to share technological advances and analyze the sector’s evolution, such as Basquevolt, Acciona, Endesa, Veolia, Naturgy, EDP Renewables, Galp, Neoen, CIC energiGUNE, SolarPower Europe, Alta Renewables, Flow Batteries Europe, or Smappee, among others.
Additionally, the first edition of the event will enjoy the backing and presence of key entities to strengthen the sector, such as the Center for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), ACCIÓ the Catalan government’s agency, as well as IREC, Eurecat, BatteryPlat, BEPA, Batt4EU, CIDETEC Energy Storage, CIIAE, MAV, the Catalonia Waste Cluster, the CTM Foundation, ALBA, VITO, Upcell Alliance, and MICMAB.
In short, the range of organizations present will span the entire battery and energy storage value chain. From the processing of strategic raw materials and the development of new materials and manufacturing processes, to testing and validation equipment, safety solutions, key components, or electrification-related industrial applications.
