ExtremaduraINTERVIEW WITH |DIEGO PAVIA CEO OF EIT INNOENERGY"It is necessary for Europe and Spain that theExtremadura New Energies project becomesviable""The Extremadura New Energies project is the second largest in Europe and its sustainable exploitation is a unique opportunity for Europe" Drafting Content offered by Cáceres|31·05·22|07:00|Updated at 10:04Diego Pavía, CEO of EIT INNOENERGY. / THE NEWSPAPERPREGUNTA: How do you rate the new ENE project with all the changes made? 2 YOU MAY BE INTERESTED2022−05−29Real Murcia is promoted to Primera RFEF2022−05−24Combustion cars will no longer be sold in 2035. We believe that the promoters have introduced relevant modifications that respond to the concerns that have been expressed in recent times. The new configuration of an underground mine and the replacement of natural gas with green hydrogen radically reduce the footprint of the project, both energy and environmental. It is important to remember here that this mine is located in an old mine, with which we are talking about restarting an activity with a great tradition in the area and, in addition, applying much more demanding sustainability standards on the farm. In addition, with this new configuration, employment needs are higher, from 250 direct jobs to 700 and indirect jobs increasing from 750 to 1650, which will also serve to industrially boost the region. It should be remembered that the European Parliament agreed in December 2021, by a majority of more than 92%, to promote sustainable mining in Europe, because this is where the law is most demanding with this type of project, and that is why it is better to produce those materials here more sustainably than to import 'dirty' materials from other latitudes.P: This is not the only lithium derivative production project that EIT InnoEnergy has already opted for in Europe. What characteristics does a project have to have for EIT Innoenergy to get involved in it?R: EIT InnoEnergy, as coordinator of the European Battery Alliance (EBA), has the mandate of the European Commission to promote the development of a European industrial value chain in the battery sector. Europe does not want to depend on third parties in certain strategic markets, and the battery market is one of them. From the extraction and refining of raw materials, through the production of active materials, the manufacture of cells, modules and batteries and even the recycling and second life of these, Europe wants to be self-sufficient. Therefore, a fundamental part of our activity is to seek and accelerate industrial projects throughout the value chain and in all countries. Extremadura New Energies wants to exploit the second largest deposit in Europe of lithium housed in rock and, therefore, it is necessary for Europe and Spain to become viable, listening to all parties and implementing it according to current environmental standards, which I repeat are the most demanding in the world. From EIT InnoEnergy we also actively support the exploitation of other deposits of raw materials (lithium, manganese, graphite, aluminum and nickel in the Iberian Peninsula, Scandinavia, Central and Eastern Europe that, due to their size and quality, we consider to be crucial to have a maximum indigenous content of batteries manufactured in Europe.1. 2 .3. 4.5.Live |War in UkraineCovid hospitalizations drop to 112 in Extremadura This is the definitive list of the best restaurants in Extremadura, the second one will surprise you.Weather in Extremadura: slightly cloudy skies, without ruling out showers and rising maximums Subscribe to our NewsletterEnjoy all the newsSign upSeven Extremadura road restaurants to enjoy the journey "This lithium refining technology, co-developed by InnoEnergy and Extremadura New Energies, is more environmentally sustainable, and meets the sustainability requirements in force in Europe, which are the most demanding in the world."DIEGO PAVIA - CEO OF EIT INNOENERGYPREGUNTA: What role can this ENE project play within the battery value chain that the European Union is promoting?RESPUESTA: The latest forecasts estimate that, by 2030, more than 50% of the vehicles sold in Europe will be all- electric. That means that the demand for lithium will multiply by more than 40 during this decade. In Europe, we are making great efforts in R&D and, also, in the deployment of industrial battery recycling projects. But, in order to be able to recycle, the first generation of batteries has to end its life and that willnot happen until the last part of this decade. Until then, we will have to base our supply of raw materials on sustainable extraction and processing. Therefore, it is important that we make viable European deposits of critical materials, especially those of a certain size, thus avoiding dependence on other markets. The Extremadura New Energies project is the second largest in Europe and its sustainable exploitation is a unique opportunity for Europe.Infographic recreation of Extremadura New Energies. / THE NEWSPAPERNew processP: The ENE matrix has announced that it has already successfully completed the work to produce lithium hydroxide with a completely new process. What does this new process mean compared to other forms of lithium hydroxide processing and what can it mean for Europe?R: Today, lithium is extracted in rock in Australia and China, and refined only in China to shape it as a chemical to be used in batteries around the world. Not all countries have demanding environmental standards and, therefore, we want this process to take place here in Europe, which has the most demanding in the world. The mineralogies from which lithium is extracted on our continent are different from those found in Australia or China, so the refining processes must be adapted, asENE has done.P: In 2018, EIT InnoEnergy invested 800,000 euros in the development of the technology now proposed by ENE. What were the reasons for this bet?R: The geological characteristics of the lithium deposit in the Extremadura New Energies project have not yet been used on an industrial scale anywhere else. For this reason, EIT InnoEnergy wanted to get involved in the development of a technology adapted to refine lithium in Cáceres. For example, we replace corrosive agents such as sulfuric acid used in other latitudes with biodegradable agents that minimize emissions from the production process. This lithium refining technology, co-developed with Extremadura New Energies, is more environmentally sustainable, and meets the sustainability requirements in force in Europe, which we repeat are the most demanding in the world.P: How important is it for the automotive sector that the Extremadura New Energies project is put into operation as soon as possible?R: In addition to what has been said about the need for lithium for the first generation of batteries, the importance of raw materials for Spain must also be taken into account. Our country is the second largest producer of vehicles in the European Union (behind Germany, but ahead of France and other European powers) and we want to remain so, also in the electric car. The automotive sector represents 10% of our country's GDP, which is why it is vital that a battery value chain is developed in Spain as well. We have projects from cell manufacturers (already announced in the press), module manufacturers, recycling, second-life manufacturers and, also, we have to bet heavily on raw materials. In addition, of all these elements of the value chain that I have just stated, raw materials are the only ones that cannot be relocated, so they are an even greater strategic opportunity.TrainingP: Another noteworthy aspect of this project is that of training. What importance will be the courses that the EBA Academy is going to develop in ENE in Extremadura to promote the training of the local population?R: The European Battery Academy is a leading program launched in 2021 and designed for the education, training and requalification of 800,000 workers throughout the European battery value chain, thus ensuring that Europe continues to lead electric mobility. With the signing of this collaboration agreement between ENE and EIT InnoEnergy, Extremadura will be a priority partner in the distribution, promotion and delivery of our courses in the region, for the benefit of citizens who want to develop their professional life in the world of batteries. Thus, both entities have agreed to work together to develop a trained workforce that responds to the new needs of the battery industry in Extremadura.P: Based on your experience and knowledge of the projects that are being developed in the lithium value chain in the EU, what do you think can be the socioeconomic impact of such a project on Cáceres and Extremadura?R: In Europe, the deposits of raw materials for batteries are basically located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, in Scandinavia and in central Europe. These regions have a unique opportunity to develop as poles of industrial development around the battery value chain. Specifically, Extremadura has been very active in the promotion of electric mobility since 2017, with the Electric Mobility Cluster of Extremadura (CarEX) and the Loabre business association. There is also the Phi4Tech project of a cell factory, and the Iberian Center for Research in Energy Storage that will open in Cáceres among many others... Extremadura has an exceptional possibility of using raw materials as an anchor for the industrial development of the region and as a strategic competitive advantage. Extremadura has to take advantage of it. TOPICSExtremadura New Energies - Lithium mine in Cáceres - lithium mine lithiumbatterygigafactory - lithium-
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