Saxony is gearing up for the production of the next generation of batteries. "Building up our own production capacities in Europe is of strategic importance," said Economics Minister Martin Dulig (SPD) on Tuesday after the cabinet meeting in Dresden. His office had presented the government with the planned funding for two companies - Zinnwald Lithium GmbH and the US company Group14 Silane GmbH. This is expected to involve investments totaling more than 800 million euros and create at least 550 jobs.
According to State Secretary for Economic Affairs Thomas Kralinski, the aim is not only to reduce dependence on Chinese battery raw materials, but also to increase the performance of batteries. "Saxon companies will thus contribute to making the mobility of the future more affordable, more comfortable and more environmentally friendly."
The funding is being provided on the basis of the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF). This is a temporary EU funding instrument designed to anchor the production of climate-neutral, strategically important technologies in Europe at an early stage and thus avoid one-sided dependencies. The federal government is to contribute 70 percent of the funding and Saxony 30 percent. Around 50 million euros in funding has been earmarked for Saxony.
Group14 Silane GmbH is a subsidiary of Group14 Technologies Inc. and is planning to build a factory to produce silicon battery materials on site. Zinnwald Lithium GmbH wants to implement one of the largest lithium mining projects in Europe by 2030 near Altenberg in the Eastern Ore Mountains. An underground mine is to be built. The company's goal is to process lithium for around 600,000 car batteries per year.
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