“The government’s 2030 vision is for the UK to have a globally competitive battery supply chain that supports economic prosperity and the net zero transition,” said Industry Minister Nusrat Ghani in the foreword to the strategy.
For instance, the UK has well-established firms that produce sodium-ion batteries, such as Faradion, as well as mature suppliers of materials and equipment to produce lithium-ion batteries that could also cater to this new technology.2
The government will properly consider the national security risks associated with investment into the UK battery supply chain, during their manufacture, development, and the ongoing operation of assets.
For electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries were presented as the best option, whereas sodium-batteries were frequently discussed as preferable to lithium in non-transport applications. As one respondent stated, ‘Sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a favourable option for stationary energy storage.’
This strategy represents a whole of government effort, developed with business. The government’s 2030 vision is for the UK to have a globally competitive battery supply chain that supports economic prosperity and the net zero transition.
The UK also intends to cultivate a lithium extraction industry and directly support firms developing domestic mining capabilities, with the Automotive Transformation Fund playing a key role. These activities are centred around lithium mining in Cornwall, which has been supported since 2019. More funding for domestic lithium production is envisaged.