Battery and Energy Storage Europe brings together innovators, experts, and industry leaders to showcase and advance the future of battery technology and energy storage across Europe
Can you tell us about the story behind Battery and Energy Storage Europe and what industry experiences inspired you to launch the event?
We identified a clear gap in the international events space. While there are automotive-focused battery events, nothing truly showcased Europe’s pioneering work across emerging battery applications. The next decade of growth will come from sectors beyond electric vehicles – e-bikes, eVTOL aircraft, grid-scale storage, maritime electrification, drones, and long-duration energy storage systems. European innovation in these areas is substantial but lacked a dedicated platform. We wanted to create an event that bridges European innovation to next generation applications.
What values and principles guided you in establishing Battery and Energy Storage Europe?
Three core principles guide us. First, prioritising European innovation and energy independence – Europe’s technological capability deserves a dedicated showcase. Second, promoting collaboration across the entire ecosystem – connecting researchers, industry leaders, start-ups, and policy-makers to facilitate genuine knowledge transfer. Third, accelerating the transition to sustainable energy. These values are reflected in everything from our venue choice to our programming across the full battery value chain.
What is the long-term vision of Battery and Energy Storage Europe, and what steps are you planning to achieve it?
Our vision is establishing Battery and Energy Storage Europe as the catalyst for European leadership in the global energy landscape – where the future of battery technology is actively shaped, collaborations form, investments happen, and innovations find their path to market.
We’re building strong foundations with 5,000 battery professionals, 150 exhibitors, and over 100 expert speakers in our first edition. We’re curating our conference to explore the roadmap for European battery industry success and establishing Barcelona as the natural home for this conversation.
How do you define success for your event, and what milestones are you aiming to reach in the coming years?
Success isn’t just about numbers. Real success is measured by tangible outcomes: new collaborations formed, investments secured, and innovations moving from exhibition floor to real-world application.
We want Battery and Energy Storage Europe to be where European companies, R&D centres, and start-ups showcase their work and find genuine pathways to market. If we facilitate knowledge transfer between research, industry, and policymakers whilst strengthening European industrial and energy independence, we’ll have achieved our goal. The highly positive reception from companies, institutions, and researchers confirms we’re on the right track.
Who is the primary target audience of Battery and Energy Storage Europe, and how do you ensure their specific needs are met?
Our audience is the diverse ecosystem driving Europe’s green energy transformation – energy professionals, engineers, entrepreneurs, and investors across the battery technology value chain. This spans materials scientists to manufacturing specialists, system integrators to those working on lifecycle management and recycling.
We focus on practical, market-ready applications. Our exhibition hosts technology companies, R&D centres, and start-ups presenting next generation solutions in advanced materials, manufacturing technology, battery design and management systems, digital product passports, and recycling. We’re creating a bridge from innovation to application.
What feedback have you received from industry partners so far, and how does it influence your programming?
The reception has been highly positive. Companies, institutions, and researchers tell us this event is long overdue – there isn’t another event in the battery technology calendar like it. They appreciate we’re addressing the full range of emerging applications beyond automotive: grid-scale energy storage, aerospace technologies, drones, railway and maritime electrification.
This feedback directly shapes our programming. We’re ensuring the conference explores practical pathways – from emerging electrochemistry to recycling technology, new materials to safety solutions – whilst facilitating genuine knowledge transfer to help move innovations to market.
What are the biggest challenges you have faced since founding Battery and Energy Storage Europe, and how have you overcome them?
Launching a first-of-its-kind event required convincing stakeholders there was space for a distinctly European-focused battery event beyond automotive applications. We demonstrated the clear market gap – whilst the battery sector evolves rapidly across multiple applications, no dedicated platform brought this ecosystem together.
Our partnership with Fira de Barcelona has been crucial. Their track record with innovation events like Smart City Expo World Congress, combined with their commitment to energy transition, gave us immediate credibility. We focused on a clear value proposition: a strategic networking opportunity bridging European innovation to next generation applications.
How do you adapt to market changes or unexpected obstacles in the battery technology sector?
The battery sector evolves incredibly quickly. We’ve designed Battery and Energy Storage Europe to be inherently flexible and future focused. Rather than locking into specific technologies, we focus on broader themes of innovation, emerging applications, and sustainable energy transition.
We stay close to the sector through continuous dialogue with companies, R&D centres, and industry experts, allowing us to adjust programming to reflect what’s most relevant. Addressing the entire battery value chain gives us flexibility to emphasise different aspects as market priorities shift.
What sets Battery and Energy Storage Europe apart from other events in the battery and energy storage sector?
Battery and Energy Storage Europe is the first of its kind internationally. No other event showcases Europe’s home-grown battery technology industry across the full spectrum of emerging applications. We’re going far beyond electric vehicles into e-bikes, eVTOL, grid-scale storage, aerospace, drones, railway and maritime electrification – focusing on where the next decade’s growth will be found.
We present disruptive advances across the entire value chain in Barcelona, one of Europe’s most dynamic technological capitals. There is no other event in the battery technology calendar like it.
What unique services or opportunities do you offer that attendees can only find with you?
Battery and Energy Storage Europe offers a comprehensive platform bridging European innovation to next generation applications across the entire battery ecosystem. Attendees will find hundreds of technology companies, R&D centres, and start-ups – particularly emerging innovators – presenting solutions focused on the European context and pathway to market.
Our conference features top-level international experts exploring Europe’s energy innovation future and practical roadmap to success. We facilitate genuine knowledge transfer between research, industry, and the public sphere, helping start-ups and innovators move from lab to market. This is where the next decade’s key collaborations and investments will be formed.
What new projects or expansions do you have planned for Battery and Energy Storage Europe in the near future?
Our focus is making the first edition in September 2026 exceptional. We’re bringing together 5,000 battery professionals, 150 exhibitors, and over 100 expert speakers at Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via venue, with a conference exploring the roadmap for European battery industry success.
The highly positive reception gives us confidence Battery and Energy Storage Europe will grow into a vibrant platform promoting European leadership globally. We’re building relationships with companies, institutions, and researchers for year-round engagement. But we believe in strong foundations first – getting the first edition right and letting future direction be guided by our community’s needs.
What three key pieces of advice would you give to people starting their own industry-focused event?
First, identify a genuine gap. We saw that Europe’s pioneering work in emerging battery applications had no dedicated showcase. Ensure your event fills a real unmet need.
Second, build the right partnerships from the start. Our collaboration with Fira de Barcelona gave us immediate credibility and world-class infrastructure. Partner with organisations sharing your values who bring expertise and trust.
Third, focus on creating real value, not just putting on a show. We’re obsessed with facilitating genuine knowledge transfer and creating pathways from innovation to market. If you focus on tangible outcomes and solving real problems, the rest follows. Listen constantly to your community and stay close to evolving sector needs.
Picture David Reeks @ Battery and Energy Storage Europe
Thank you David Reeks for the Interview
Statements of the author and the interviewee do not necessarily represent the editors and the publisher opinion again.
