VARTA STORAGE GMBH

Their core work

VARTA Storage is a German battery manufacturer specializing in lithium-ion energy storage systems for stationary and grid-scale applications. Within H2020 projects, they contribute industrial-scale battery production expertise, testing advanced cell chemistries (silicon anodes, cobalt-free cathodes), and validating storage solutions for smart grid integration. Their role spans from materials-level R&D — improving electrodes, electrolytes, and cell design — to system-level deployment in cross-border energy networks.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

VARTA's early H2020 work (2016–2017) concentrated on improving lithium-ion battery performance at the materials and manufacturing level — better silicon anodes, new production routes, and smart grid demonstrations. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward sustainability and system resilience: cobalt-free chemistries, battery recycling, and cross-border energy storage for renewable integration. This arc mirrors the broader European battery industry's move from pure performance optimization toward circular economy and supply chain independence.

VARTA is moving toward environmentally responsible battery production — cobalt-free chemistries, recyclable designs, and reduced-cost stationary storage — making them a strong partner for green energy and circular economy initiatives.

How they like to work

VARTA participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, which is typical for an industrial company contributing manufacturing expertise and validation capacity to research-driven consortia. With 79 unique partners across 22 countries, they operate in large, diverse consortia and clearly serve as the industrial validation endpoint for academic and research institute innovations. This makes them a reliable, low-friction partner — they know their role and deliver industry-grade testing and production input.

VARTA has built a broad European network of 79 partners across 22 countries through 6 projects, indicating involvement in large multi-national consortia. Their partnerships span from Western European research institutes to Eastern European grid operators (notably through CROSSBOW).

What sets them apart

VARTA brings something rare to H2020 consortia: actual large-scale battery manufacturing capability in Germany. While many partners contribute research or modeling, VARTA can validate findings at production scale and provide real-world performance data. Their combined expertise in both advanced cell chemistry and grid-level storage deployment makes them a bridge between lab-stage materials research and commercial energy storage products.

Highlights from their portfolio

• WiseGRID
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 769K) — a wide-scale smart grid demonstration integrating storage into real European energy networks.
• ECO2LIB
  Addresses the full battery lifecycle from ecological production to recycling, reflecting VARTA's strategic pivot toward circular economy.
• CoFBAT
  Targets cobalt-free battery chemistries for stationary storage — directly relevant to Europe's push for critical raw material independence.