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Íñigo Careaga Aja, Strategy Manager, discusses some of the key trends and developments we will see in the battery market in 2025.

1. What major headlines will dominate the industry this year?

In 2025, the battery industry will continue to be marked by the milestones associated with the rise of electromobility above all and the consolidation of alternatives for this purpose.

In terms of technology, we are sure to see significant advances in solid-state batteries and hybrid models. These batteries, together with sodium-ion batteries, will feature prominently in the industry news. Sodium batteries are positioning themselves as a complementary alternative to lithium, especially in stationary applications, thanks to their sustainability and reduced dependence on scarce materials.

At the same time, another big headline this year is expected to be the role of sustainability in the industry. The creation of efficient recycling systems to close the life cycle of batteries and the commitment to fast charging infrastructures will be key. The industry is moving towards circular models that ensure that the materials used in batteries can be recovered and reused, which will be a determining factor in the sustainable development of the sector.

 

2. Where do the industry´s major efforts for this year seem to be?

Above all, and beyond the development of the technologies themselves, to ensure their industrialisation and production capacity. Investments in infrastructures and the development of new regulatory policies that promote local manufacturing and the use of sustainable batteries will also mark the agenda for 2025. Energy transition and technological independence will continue to be priorities in the main markets, and this year will see these projects begin to materialise.

 

3. Which technologies look set to gain more and more prominence this year?

The aforementioned solid-state and sodium-ion batteries will continue to receive the most attention and financial effort from manufacturers and institutions. It is to be expected that the year 2025 will gradually establish the growth and development of these emerging technologies, both of which will climb the market as an alternative to conventional batteries.

Alongside them, we are sure to see more and more advances in technologies such as lithium-sulphur, redox-flow or metal-air. Although they are not getting as much attention, their evolution in recent years also makes them more than interesting alternatives for the future of storage.

And beyond the battery itself and its technological composition, we will see more and more approaches that seek to take advantage of the benefits that new technologies (such as artificial intelligence) can offer the industry. In fact, many BTMS (battery management systems) models are already being developed that harness the potential of such solutions to provide more accurate monitoring, failure prediction and performance optimisation, improving safety and extending battery life.

4. What other elements will have a decisive influence at both regional and international level?

Beyond technological innovations, the battery industry will be profoundly influenced in 2025 by several geopolitical, economic and regulatory factors that will set the pace of its evolution both regionally and internationally.

First, the availability of and access to critical raw materials, such as lithium, nickel and cobalt, will be a major challenge for the industry. Dependence on certain producer countries is causing geopolitical tensions that could affect global supply chains. This is why many regions, especially Europe, are looking for alternatives to ensure their strategic autonomy, including the development of local mines, international agreements and the promotion of technologies that reduce dependence on scarce materials.

On the other hand, there is of course a key political component in the coming months in relation to competition and competition for this industry between the different regions (especially Asia, the US and Europe). In this game, the entry of the new Trump administration in the US may change the landscape depending on the policy that the new executive finally decides to take. This also has an influence at the regulatory level, where we are likely to see a tightening of trade policies, with the corresponding impact on costs for customers and investments.

 

5. On a scientific level, what role do research centers such as CIC energiGUNE play in this scenario?

We consider that we play a fundamental role in the advancement of the battery sector, as in many cases we are the protagonists of many of the scientific developments that are subsequently scaled up by the industry. Our job is not only to innovate new energy storage technologies, but also to optimise existing ones to make them more efficient, safer and more sustainable. That´s why we work on key areas such as the development of new battery materials, smarter management systems and advanced recycling methods.

We aim to help bridge the gap between basic research and industrial application, helping to bridge the gap between science and the market by collaborating with companies and governments on projects that seek to accelerate the energy transition. At a time when technological independence is a priority for regions such as Europe, the role of centers such as CIC energiGUNE is vital to lead innovation in energy storage and strengthen technological sovereignty in a sector as strategic as batteries.

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