Why Militaries Shouldn’t Be Exempt from EU Battery Laws

Feb 8, 2022 | Conflict and Environment Observatory
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The EU Green Deal and 2050 carbon neutrality targets are set to drive forward a low-carbon economy reliant on battery-powered technology. Both the Green Deal and European Climate Law require action across all sectors of the economy, and that should include militaries.

Across Europe, several initiatives and networks – such as the European Defence Energy Network – are already in place to support militaries move towards lower carbon energy use. In 2020, the European External Action Service published a Climate Change and Defence Roadmap, which set out goals to develop standard operating procedures on environmental and carbon footprint management for the military. Some countries – such as France, Italy and the Netherlands – have also published energy strategies for their military, which include plans to improve energy efficiency and expand renewable energy use. Greater reliance on renewable energy will increase the need for battery storage systems, allowing surplus energy to be stored and used on demand.