Emma Nehrenheim is the new Managing Director of the European Battery Alliance (EBA). Founded in 2017, the battery alliance is a project initiated by the European Commission and coordinated by InnoEnergy on behalf of the EU Commission.
Nehrenheim is joining from InnoEnergy with more than two decades of experience in environmental technology and battery manufacturing. Most recently, she was Chief Environmental Officer and President of Northvolt Materials. She was also involved in the development of the EU Battery Regulation.
Emma Nehrenheim is succeeding Thore Sekkenes, who headed the EBA’s industrial division for more than six years.According to InnoEnergy, Nehrenheim has already been involved in drafting the new EU battery regulation in the past. This regulation, which was adopted in August 2023, is a central element of the Green Deal and obliges manufacturers to disclose their carbon footprint, comply with recycling quotas and ensure the complete traceability of materials via digital battery passports, among other things.
“When we started Northvolt, Asia had already established a significant lead in battery manufacturing and development. With the support of the European Battery Alliance and InnoEnergy, we took on the challenge of building a battery industry rooted in Europe,” said Emma Nehrenheim regarding the challenges in her new position, adding: “The transition is going to happen. The real question is whether Europe will secure a meaningful share of it. Our mission isn’t just to build a battery industry, but to make it European, shaped by our standards, driven by our innovation, and powered by our industrial strength. I am here to be part of that and to do what I can to support the continued growth and success of EBA and its member companies.”
Diego Pavía, CEO of InnoEnergy, further added: “Europe’s battery value chain, from raw materials to recycling, is a “must have” if the continent is to remain a competitive player in mobility in the short, medium, and long term. The automotive sector, both directly and indirectly, represents 7% of Europe’s GDP and 13 million jobs. The next 4–5 years will be critical, as Europe aims to raise this to 8%, unlocking an additional €300 billion in annual GDP and creating one million new jobs by 2030 across the entire value chain.”
innoenergy.com
