April 29, 2026: Gigafactory projects vital to powering Europe’s developing battery cells industry risk being stuck in the ‘waiting room’ for investment, business leaders have warned.
The European Battery Alliance (EBA) said at its annual meeting in Brussels on April 16 that despite improved access to capital, investment decisions remain sensitive to cost structures, risk allocation and market demand.
Frédéric Lucenet, global head of manufacturing and services at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, told around 100 top policy, industry, finance and innovation leaders at the event: “There is a kind of waiting room today. Projects are there, but investment decisions take time.”
The EBA said the challenge is no longer to launch projects, but to bring them to industrial scale, ensure their competitiveness and secure long-term market viability.
That means initiatives such as the EU’s ‘battery booster’ facility, including €1.5 billion ($1.8 billion) in the form of interest-free loans and other measures targeting critical raw materials, are urgent and important steps to support European cell manufacturers during the ramp-up phase, the EBA said.
The event showcased a range of technologies including alternative chemistries such as sodium ion, advanced materials and processing technologies, next-generation battery components and recycling tech.
Baptiste Buet, director of the EU Business Unit at EU-backed tech developer EIT InnoEnergy, said: “Europe has built a strong project pipeline. The focus now must be on execution — ensuring that projects can scale, attract investment and reach the market. Policy signals and the EU public finance toolbox are decisive enablers.
Batteries International reported in March that the European Commission was proposing a fresh package of support to encourage private investments in long duration energy storage projects and “novel” renewables.
The Commission said it planned to work with the European Investment Bank Group to step up financial support for investments in LDES and a range of clean energy tech such as floating wind, floating solar and wave and tidal power.
