On Thursday, 3 August, the European Commission announced that it had approved a French aid scheme worth €1.5 billion in order to support Prometheus—a research and development project led by ProLogium Technologies that focuses on solid-state batteries (SSBs), a new generation of batteries for electric vehicles.
According to the European Commission, these batteries are more efficient and safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Within the framework of this project, ProLogium intends to develop first- and second-generation SSBs and will develop techniques and standards for recycling SSBs as well as recycling strategies for battery components.
ProLogium will receive aid in the form of a direct grant of up to €1.5 billion, which will support the project until the end of 2029.
ProLogium has, moreover, committed to sharing the technical know-how gained in the context of the project with the research and industrial sectors.
The measure was found to be compliant with EU State aid rules—more specifically, Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union as well as the Framework for State Aid for Research and Development and Innovation (2014/C 198/01).
The measure is expected to help achieve the objectives of the ‘European Green Deal’ and the EU Battery Strategy. (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)