“The recycling process should already be taken into account when building the battery”

SKZ: What is the Battery Education Network Bavaria B³ about?
Matthias Gerhard: The Battery Education Network Bavaria, or “B to the power of 3” for short, is an educational project of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). B³ was launched in 2023 and will run for a total of five years. The B³ project team, which also includes the SKZ, aims to close the education and skills gaps that arise in the transition to e-mobility.The automotive industry is currently undergoing major changes, and the switch from combustion engines to battery-powered electric vehicles brings with it many new challenges. On the one hand, established jobs are being lost, but on the other hand, completely new ones are being created. It is estimated that half a million new jobs will be needed in Europe by 2035 for battery production and the associated ecosystem alone. Germany could account for around 25% of this figure. In order to meet this demand, many people will need to be qualified or retrained. This is essential for this change to work. The B³ Battery Education Network Bavaria has set itself the goal of tackling this issue with the help of educational institutions such as the SKZ and the Bildungswerk der Bayerischen Wirtschaft (bbw) as well as specialized research institutions from all over Bavaria. We are working on creating qualification opportunities for industry in Bavaria and ultimately throughout Germany over the next five years.

SKZ: What has already been completed and how far has the project progressed?
Gerhard: We are now in the second year of the project. In the first year, we carried out a needs analysis to determine the current status in the industry. We actively approached the companies that are affected by the transformation to e-mobility and asked them where the shoe pinches. This is usually done through interviews, the last of which we are currently completing. In principle, the aim is to find out which training measures are already being carried out and where there are gaps and needs in in-company training. We want to specifically close these gaps in the B³ project. At the same time, we are also looking at the labor market to find out where there is a lack of skilled workers or where existing workers need to be retrained.We are trying to identify the key points and, together with the research partners, are using these to create our training courses, all of which are free of charge during the project phase.

SKZ: Are the first courses already available for participation?
Gerhard: The first training courses have been available for about six months. We offer various courses in different areas. As part of the project, we have defined a battery ecosystem across the battery cell production value chain. The associated topics range from materials and cell components to the finished cells and modules. Other immensely important topics are the recycling and secondary use of batteries. For example, a battery that has been sorted out for the automotive sector can still be used as an intermediate storage unit for home use. We also have training courses on safety-related topics in our portfolio. Specifically, these are training courses on the subject of hazards and handling batteries. Battery production in the module and system sector involves working in the high-voltage range. Employees must therefore be familiar with the safe handling of voltages above 60 V. The safe handling of hazardous substances is also an important point for the battery materials used. In addition, classic introductory questions such as “What is a lithium-ion battery?” and “What basic knowledge do you need in the battery sector?” are answered. There are also courses on the materials currently used in battery production. The production of lithium-ion cells and assembly are also covered.

SKZ: What’s next for the project team?
Gerhard: We are currently working on courses on recycling. For example, the “Design for X” course. The recycling process should already be taken into account during the construction of the battery, from the material and the cell to diagnostics through to use in second-life applications and return for recycling. We are continuously expanding our range. In addition to the basics, we are also working on other specialist topics. A highlight in the fall will be a hands-on format in which participants will produce electrodes and a cell on a laboratory scale themselves under the guidance of our research partners. This hands-on experience will give participants a better understanding of the production process. Here too, we would like to cover the entire value chain in various practical modules in the future.