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Batteries for the Energy Transition: Exploring the Sustainable Value Chain

Discover how batteries function, how they are produced, and what happens at the end of their life cycle.

584 enrolled on this course

Decorative image: An blurred city scape with icons for renewable energy and battery power

Batteries for the Energy Transition: Exploring the Sustainable Value Chain

584 enrolled on this course

  • 4 weeks

  • 4 hours per week

  • Accreditation available

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Intermediate level

Find out more about how to join this course

The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Learn how batteries work and explore their role in developing renewable energies

The energy transition is gaining momentum worldwide and batteries play a key role in its implementation.

On this four-week course from EIT RawMaterials, you’ll explore the fundamental principles of batteries, how they are produced, and the critical role they play in the move towards renewable energy.

Discover the battery life cycle and why they are so important

Battery technology has become commonplace. Batteries are used in applications ranging from cell phones to electric vehicles. But have you ever wondered what makes batteries so important?

This course will help you understand the fundamental principles of how batteries function, how they are produced, and what happens at the end of their life cycle.

Explore the sustainability issues (and solutions) of batteries

Demand for batteries is growing rapidly as they are needed for everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles.

You’ll hear from recognised educators from six European universities and research institutes as they share their knowledge concerning every step of the battery value chain, considering sustainability at every stage.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Introduction to battery technology

    • Welcome to batteries for the energy transition

      Welcome to Batteries for the energy transition, where we will explore the sustainable value chain and discover the latest developments in the world of batteries, from raw materials to manufacturing and recycling.

    • Can we stop using fossil fuels?

      This activity explores why we want to reduce our use of fossil fuels. It looks at the factors driving this change and the need to develop new ways of storing and converting energy to make this possible.

    • Why are lithium-ion batteries impactful?

      This activity looks at the expansion of battery use over recent years and explores the position of Lithium-ion in this increased demand.

    • Week 1 summary

      This activity consolidates this week's learning as you reflect on the topics discussed and test your understanding before progressing to Week 2.

  • Week 2

    Understanding battery technology

    • Electricity from chemical energy

      This activity lays the basis for understanding electrochemical phenomena which occur in batteries.

    • Operation of a battery

      In this activity, you are going to explore how materials are chosen to design a battery.

    • Energy and power of battery technologies

      In this activity, we are going to look at the development of various classes of battery technologies, as well as the fundamental terms used to describe the performance of batteries.

    • Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and beyond

      This activity explores how lithium-ion batteries work and are manufactured. You are also going to look at the sustainable development of next-generation batteries as well as the working principles of lithium-ion batteries.

    • Week 2 summary

      This activity consolidates this week's learning as you reflect on the topics discussed and test your understanding before progressing to Week 3.

  • Week 3

    Battery materials and sustainability

    • Active electrode materials for batteries

      In this activity, we are going to look at the materials used for a positive electrode (a cathode) and a negative electrode (an anode).

    • Electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs)

      Having previously seen that batteries include electrodes and electrolytes, in this activity, we will look at the materials used for electrolytes.

    • Introduction to recycling and sustainability in the value chain

      In this activity, we are going to look at basic sustainable development ideas and value chains, as well as the basics of recycling and the circular economy. We will also explore the progress made in recycling.

    • Week 3 summary

      This activity consolidates this week's learning as you reflect on the topics discussed and test your understanding before progressing to Week 4.

  • Week 4

    Recycling and sustainability in the battery value materials

    • Sustainability in the battery value chain

      In this activity, we are going to look at the European Union's legal requirements for a battery value chain.

    • Circular economy of batteries

      This activity explores the circular economy of batteries and asks you to consider the level of CE implementation in your country.

    • Reporting of sustainability by batteries recyclers and producers

      In this activity, we are going to explore why sustainability should be considered and why it's worth putting into practice.

    • Recycling of batteries

      In this activity, we are going to look at the industrial recycling of LIBs.

    • Week 4 summary

      This activity consolidates this week's learning as you reflect on the topics discussed and asses your understanding before completing your final test and finishing this course.

    • Course summary

      Now is time to summarize the contents of the course, thank you for your interest and wish you good luck in the future. We hope you get great benefit of your new knowledge about batteries.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • identify the basic components of a battery
  • describe how batteries work
  • discuss current challenges facing the production and application of batteries.
  • engage discussions concerning sustainability in the battery value chain
  • explore more knowledge about the technologies.

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in learning about the intricacies of batteries, how they work, and how they can be used for a more sustainable future.

Who will you learn with?

I am Associate Professor in Inorganic Chemistry at the Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician” of the University of Bologna and I am studying batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells.

Hi! My name is Habtom, a materials chemist specializing in electrochemical energy storage in batteries and supercapacitors. I am currently a researcher at Uppsala University.

I am Professor of Materials Chemistry at Uppsala University, and have plenty of experience of battery research.

I am associate prof. - Head and founder of Division of Strategic Research at MEERI Polish Academy of Sciences.

I am Ulla Lassi, professor at the University of Oulu, Finland. My core competence is the preparation of cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries from primary and secondary resources.

I am full professor of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry at the University of Milan Bicocca, Department of Materials Science, where I have been working since 2007 teaching and doing research.

Who developed the course?

EIT RawMaterials

Initiated and funded by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), a body of the European Union, EIT RawMaterials is the largest European raw materials partnership.

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Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$244.99 for a whole year

Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Tests to boost your learning
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 16 Feb 2025

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.

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