Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd (ASX:INF)’s Spanish subsidiary is set to collaborate with local business clusters on a lithium-ion battery training and development program.
INF’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Extremadura New Energies, has inked a deal with what’s known as the Group of Innovative Companies — a collective founded by Spain’s Extremadura Electric Mobility Cluster (CarEX) and business association LOABRE.
Together, the parties will advance skills and training across the industrial energy storage, electric mobility and renewable energies sectors under the framework of the European Battery Alliance’s (EBA’s) Battery Academy.
What is the EBA?
The EBA is an arm of the European Commission designed to address the mass migration from fossil fuels to electric energy.
This burgeoning market is estimated to be worth €250 billion from 2025 and Europe is determined to establish a complete domestic battery value chain to support the clean energy transition.
In late February, EBA vice-president Maroš Šefčovič announced the organisation would allocate €10 million to accelerate training and development in the lithium-ion battery value chain.
He also established the EBA Battery Academy — a program designed to address a skills shortage across the continent as part of Europe’s mission to lead sustainable battery innovation.
The program will train, reskill and upskill roughly 800,000 workers by 2025.
Where does INF come in?
As part of the deal announced today, the Group of Innovative Companies has reinforced its support for INF’s subsidiary’s integrated industrial lithium processing project in Cáceres.
The group will also work with Extremadura New Energies to lead and support business initiatives within the lithium-ion battery value chain, as well as promote the economic development of industrial projects in Cáceres.
In addition, Extremadura New Energies and the Spanish business collective will work to offer specific training within the energy storage, electric mobility and renewable energy sectors.
CarEX president Tomás Sánchez stated: “Signing this agreement today brings me great satisfaction. The true industrialisation of Extremadura begins here.”
Extremadura New Energies CEO Ramón Jinimnez Serrano welcomed the opportunity to establish new skills to support the lithium-ion battery value chain and the move to eMobility.
“This will turn Cáceres into a training hub for a sector that is only going to grow in importance,” he explained.
“It will provide young people from Cáceres with the skills and employability they need for the future.”
Ramón went on to say that Extremadura continues to build connections with the local community to ensure that company’s lithium processing project brings the widest possible benefits for Cáceres and Extremadura.
Why Spain?
European Commission president Ursula von de Leyen recently highlighted Spain’s leading position to play a major role in providing energy independence for Europe.
Earlier this month, she stated: “The EU must get rid of its dependency on fossil fuels. Spain is a frontrunner here, with its large renewables share and LNG capacities.
“Spain can and will play an important role in supplying Europe.”
Extremadura is poised to capitalise on Europe’s move to accelerate sustainable energies (which are currently producing close to one-quarter of Spain’s total photovoltaic generated electricity).
The collaboration with Loabre and CarEx provides the first step in developing the necessary skills and capabilities for energy transition industries in Cáceres.