ABEE opens state-of-the-art R&D facility and upscaling center for next-generation batteries in Ninove
The event was graced by notable government officials, including Minister-President of the Flemish Region Jan Jambon, American Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium Michael Adler, Bulgarian Minister of Economy Bogdan Bogdanov and Romanian Counselor to the Prime Minister Florin Spataru. Diplomatic representatives from various European countries, as well as representatives from financial institutions and industries, among whom our CEO Bart Steukers also joined the celebration.
Key takeaways from the speech of Minister President Jan Jambon
- Flanders is Europe’s recycling champion with 70% of waste collected in Flanders is recycled today. The goal is to go even further and achieve 77,5% by 2030. Flanders is also very well aware of the challenges related to sourcing of precious materials needed for a successful climate transition. Europe being resource pour in terms of these required materials, Flanders is committed to focus on recycling and resource utilization and to become a circular frontrunner in Europe, during this term of office.
- Flanders has the ambition to reduce its material footprint with 30% by 2030 and to become even fully circular by 2050 and ABEE will play an important role in achieving this ambition through the development of new recycling technologies for batteries. This mission will be crucial for the European battery industry in reducing its waste as well as its dependence on raw materials. In this regard, innovation is of utmost importance for making this new transition a success and for the early adoption of innovative practices in battery recycling. Continuous research and innovation is the most effective shield against economic shocks.
- In the late 80’s and 90’s, Flanders has focused on the telecom and semi-conductor sector and in 2023 we will take the leap into the battery industry, together with ABEE. Next in march 2024 Flanders will venture into the data-, circular- and entertainment industry with Flanders Technology and Innovation.
ABEE, founded in September 2019 as a small player in the battery sector, has rapidly evolved into a leading research and development company with over 60 employees in Ninove alone. The newly inaugurated R&D facility represents a total investment of 27 million euros, making it the largest of its kind in the Benelux region and solidifying Ninove as the Belgian Silicon Valley for energy storage innovation.
The ceremony highlighted ABEE's recent announcements, including the gigafactory in Seneffe Manage with a production capacity of 3 GWh, and the battery recycling plant in Dour, capable of recycling 20,000 tons of batteries annually. These initiatives not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also create significant job opportunities and economic growth in the region.
Key takeaways from the speech of Agoria CEO Bart Steukers
- The ambitions of ABEE is radiating what Agoria stands for: in all the challenges that we are facing regarding the digital & green transition, we want our Belgian technology companies to be a part of the solution. And this is exactly what Noshin Omar and the whole ABEE team is standing for. It has long time been doubted by many that Belgium could play a role in the upcoming value chain of batteries, but ABEE has proven the contrary!
- ABEE is also contributing to realize a personal dream of our CEO, namely to become a world champion of circularity and of critical raw materials, as was hinted by Minister President Jan Jambon. This is the way forward to achieve as a region a strategic autonomy. With our knowledge and experience we, as a country, can become an exporter of critical raw materials, this without putting one spade in the ground. Agoria is pretty sure that ABEE will make realize this dream!
- Last but not least, Agoria is also proud that it played a role in the establishment of ABEE back in 2019. In the framework of the Lifebat feasibility study, conducted by Agoria and with the support of VLAIO, we have mapped the opportunities for Flanders in the Value chain of batteries. Now, today we live a fantastic achievement of that with ABEE and its fantastic ambitions and realizations.
ABEE's continuous growth and expansion, with approximately 130 million euros invested in the Belgian battery industry over five years, underscore its dedication to pushing the boundaries of battery technology on a global scale. The company's commitment to international collaborations is exemplified by the BMS production facility in Northern Macedonia.
In the coming weeks, ABEE will unveil future expansions in East Europe, representing one of the largest investments within the ABEE group. Additionally, the company is actively exploring opportunities in the US market, with plans to disclose its strategy by mid-2024, counting on the support of Ambassador Adler and the administration of President Biden.
The company also expressed gratitude to partners, clients, and ING bank for their support, as
well as the Flanders/Belgium government for their collaboration in fostering growth and innovation in the battery industry.
In his closing remarks, Noshin Omar expressed confidence that with the new state-of-the-art R&D facility, strong partnerships, and a dedicated team, ABEE will continue to lead the industry in innovation and sustainable solutions.
