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| Power battery encounters "carbon test" at sea |
| Release time:2023-02-15 08:44:04| Viewed： |
At present, achieving carbon peak and carbon neutrality is the consensus of many countries in the world. Many countries have introduced strict regulations and measures to accelerate the achievement of the "double carbon" goal, which brings new challenges to the export of power batteries and other products in China. "Under the background of strengthening environmental protection in the EU and other regions and countries, foreign customers have put forward very clear requirements for carbon reduction and recycling. For example, BMW, Volkswagen, Benz, Renault, Volvo and other complete vehicle enterprises have clear requirements for low-carbon production, material recycling, and LCA (carbon emissions of the whole life cycle of batteries), which is a great challenge for power battery enterprises." Recently, Liang Rui, president of Xinwangda Battery, put forward new problems faced by power battery export at an industry forum.
In this regard, Wang Pan, senior director of China Auto Data Co., Ltd., believes that from a global perspective, the "carbon barrier" covering the whole life cycle of power battery has been formed.
Setting "carbon barriers" is becoming a common practice in developed countries and regions
With the implementation of carbon peak and carbon neutralization plans in many countries and regions in the world, the "carbon barrier" to curb carbon emissions is becoming a new phenomenon and gradually becoming a common practice.
"The 'carbon barrier' is also known as the green trade barrier. Generally speaking, it refers to the measures directly or indirectly taken to restrict or even prohibit import trade in order to protect the environment in order to achieve the 'double carbon' goal. In principle, it mainly includes the phased objectives of implementing the 'double carbon' policy, international and regional environmental protection conventions, national environmental protection regulations and standards, ISO14000 environmental management system and environmental signs and other voluntary measures, production And processing methods and relevant requirements. " Xu Bonan, a researcher at the International Economic and Trade Research Center of Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, said in an interview with the reporter of China Auto News that in the new round of global trade competition, developed countries and regions have introduced various innovative institutional arrangements such as carbon emission laws, regulations and standards, using their own technological advantages and good industrial foundation, with the aim of maintaining their own advantages in the process of "double carbon", At the same time, we hope to achieve the purpose of restraining the input of products that do not meet our requirements, including power batteries. In recent years, including Europe, the United States, Japan and other countries and regions are studying carbon tariffs and other "carbon barriers" measures. In fact, the United States has raised the surcharge on imported chemical and petroleum products. Although there is no carbon in the name, it is actually formulated for carbon emissions. It stipulates the limited indicators of relevant hazardous substances, and those exceeding the indicators are prohibited from import. In the next step, it remains to be seen whether similar measures will be applied to the import of power batteries, because power battery products also involve a variety of chemical raw materials.
"The specific measures of 'carbon barrier' directly related to power battery mainly include the following." Sun Guohai, a researcher of Guangdong Industrial Economic Research Center, introduced carbon tariff in an interview with the reporter of China Auto News. At present, the carbon tariff in Europe is levied according to the emission of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and other greenhouse gases after the combustion of fossil fuels, involving power batteries and other related imported products, with the purpose of encouraging manufacturers to choose energy-saving, low-carbon and efficient production methods, technologies, processes and products; The second is carbon label. According to the current EU regulations, the carbon label basically covers the carbon footprint of the whole life cycle of power battery products, that is, the carbon emissions in the whole process from raw materials, manufacturing, storage and transportation to recycling, treatment and reuse, which should be marked and notified to customers in the form of product labels and digital quantification; Third, proof of carbon emission reduction. For imported products such as power batteries, it is required that the exporting countries and importing countries have equivalent carbon emission reduction measures, or that producers must obtain carbon emission reduction quotas and attach carbon emission reduction certificates when importing products. This measure requires power battery producers to undertake the same carbon emission reduction obligations as similar producers in the importing country at the production stage. For some developing countries and emerging economies, it is difficult to reach such high standards in a short time, which will weaken the competitiveness of their power battery products; Fourth, relevant government subsidies and government procurement policies for reducing carbon emissions in developed countries. The development of technologies to reduce carbon emissions requires huge funds. Developed countries often give certain government subsidies to power battery and electric vehicle manufacturers, and may take certain government procurement measures, thus making imported products lose advantages in price and market, thus forming carbon-related trade barriers.
"In addition, in the name of the 'double carbon' goal, Europe and the United States and other regions also have some measures directly aimed at imported power battery products." Chang Dequan, consultant of the Foreign Trade Branch of the North Machinery Industry Research Association, said in an interview with the reporter of China Auto News. First, at present, many countries in Europe and the United States and other regions have implemented green environmental signs, and the certification process is complex, procedures are cumbersome, and standards are strict, It increases the production costs and transaction costs of power battery manufacturers. For example, Canada's "environmental choice scheme", Japan's "ecological label" and the EU's "European environmental label"; The second is to put forward requirements for power battery production and manufacturing. For example, for the content of harmful substances in raw materials used in the manufacture of power battery products, carbon emissions in the production process and even carbon emissions indicators in the use of products, and the relevant indicators and standards are basically developed by developed countries, which set barriers for many developing countries and emerging economies. In the ISO14000 environmental management system of the International Standards Organization, products are required to meet the standard from production to manufacturing, sales, use and final treatment. At the same time, international organizations such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are also vigorously promoting carbon emission reduction standards, which have a direct impact on the manufacturing and export of power batteries.
The EU, which has been running towards the goal of "double carbon", has continued to launch relevant new policies and measures in recent years. "On January 26 this year, the European Union reported to the World Trade Organization (WTO) the" Proposal for Regulations on Batteries and Waste Batteries ", which upgraded the current battery control mode from the directive to the regulation, with the purpose of ensuring that the power batteries entering the EU market can be sustainable, high-performance, safe and reliable in the whole life cycle." Luan Zhijie, a researcher at the Jiangsu New Energy Vehicle Engineering Research Center, told the China Auto News reporter that in December 2019, The European Union has launched the "European Green Agreement" to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Since January 2020, carbon tariffs have entered the fast lane of EU legislation. On March 10 this year, the European Parliament passed the "Towards a WTO Compliant EU Carbon Border Regulation Mechanism". At the end of June this year, the European Union's Climate Change Law passed the legislative process, formally turning the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 into a mandatory legal constraint. On July 14, the EU officially introduced the "carbon border regulation mechanism", namely the carbon tariff mechanism. Thus, it also brings new "carbon barriers" to the export of power batteries and other products in developing countries.
Meng Xiangcheng, a researcher of the Shandong Institute of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, introduced the differences between "carbon barriers" in Europe and the United States to the reporter of China Auto News. He said that what the United States is studying is to levy taxes on all imported products of countries and regions with large carbon emissions, mainly aiming at covering all products of importing countries. The European Union is aimed at one or several types of products such as power batteries. The two have different ideas and directions. In general, the EU's regulations cover a wide range of requirements, and the rules are highly uncertain. Its carbon footprint calculation method, the approval of the use of green power, the proportion of renewable materials and other requirements will have a significant impact on the global power battery industry and trade in the future.
"Under such a policy background, it has become an international trend to focus on carbon emissions from the whole life cycle of automobiles and achieve scientific and effective carbon reduction and decarbonization. Overseas policies and regulations are increasingly strict in the control of power batteries." Wang Pan believes.
Time is tight, task is heavy, power battery enterprises feel pressure
Many power battery enterprises in China have experienced the impact of "carbon barrier".
"The EU has taken the lead in imposing carbon tariffs on the import of various industrial products, including power batteries, and will impose carbon tariffs on imported power batteries and other related products from 2023, which is a new test for our export to Europe." Han Yuwen, chief engineer of Zhejiang Haodi New Energy Co., Ltd., said in an interview with the reporter of China Auto News that in Europe, America and Asia and other export destinations, Europe is one of the first countries to set carbon tariffs on imported power batteries and other products. The impact of the carbon tariff on China's power battery enterprises is mainly reflected in: first, it will increase the export cost of power battery; The second is to put forward requirements for the whole life cycle of power battery, including raw material procurement, production, use, recycling and other links to reduce carbon emissions. "Some power battery enterprises in China have some difficulties in this regard. For example, if the content of some chemicals is to meet the European Union standards, they need to carry out technical transformation of battery products, and then carry out verification again. This requires not only the organization of technical forces to implement, but also more capital and time investment." Han Yuwen said.
"We have also received the relevant EU regulations forwarded by European customers. The requirements for carbon reduction of power batteries are basically a big step every year, and are becoming more and more strict." Liang Shubing, deputy chief engineer of Shandong Luyuan New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., told China Auto News that the EU will impose carbon tariffs from January 1, 2023; According to the requirements of the European Battery and Waste Battery Regulation, the European Union will require that imported power battery products and locally produced power battery products must declare their carbon footprint from July 1, 2024; From January 1, 2026, power battery products must be marked according to the carbon intensity, that is, the carbon labeling system will be activated; The carbon footprint limit will be introduced from July 1, 2027, and power battery products exceeding the limit will not enter the EU market. In order to cope with the increasingly high "carbon barrier", domestic power battery enterprises need to comprehensively transform the entire production, supply and marketing system, which increases the export costs of power battery manufacturers.
Under the current production conditions, domestic power battery enterprises are struggling to meet the high requirements of Europe and other places. "It is not easy to meet the requirements of the other party." Tang Yixin, director of the Technology Development Center of Sichuan Simaitai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., told the reporter of China Auto News that foreign research institutions have calculated that according to the 70% share of thermal power in the power supply and the 50 kilowatt-hour power of the power battery carried by a pure electric vehicle, the production of finished battery will bring about 1 ton of carbon emissions. The price of carbon tariffs is calculated according to the carbon emissions of power batteries and the carbon trading price of the EU. Although this price fluctuates with market changes, the EU carbon trading price has risen to 55.1 euros per ton (about 410 yuan) in May this year. Therefore, it is not ruled out that the price will rise when the carbon tariffs are implemented.
"From next year, the EU will have a series of regulations on the import of power batteries, and some domestic power battery export enterprises are very nervous about this." Liu Tong, the director of Jiangsu Xingyetong New Energy Co., Ltd., told the China Auto News that according to the new version of battery regulations issued by the European Commission on December 10, 2020, the EU will implement more comprehensive supervision on the power battery industry chain imported from Europe, It is required that the batteries put on the EU market are sustainable, recyclable, high-performance and safe throughout their life cycle. The specific provisions include the introduction of carbon footprint, carbon emissions, raw material supply, and the proportion of reusable raw materials, which will take effect on January 1, 2022; At the same time, from July 1, 2024 to 2027, it will be required to indicate the carbon footprint and declare the recoverable cobalt, lead, lithium and nickel contents of power batteries; The minimum recovery quota will be implemented in 2030. The recommended quota for cobalt is 12%, for lead is 85%, and for lithium and nickel is 4%; From 2035, the quota threshold for cobalt, lithium and nickel will be raised to 20%, 10% and 12% respectively. "China's power battery export enterprises are working hard to prepare. The first step is to meet the new standards implemented from January next year. The time for the implementation of the new standards is getting closer and closer. If domestic enterprises do not pay attention to it, the power battery products of some small and medium-sized enterprises with insufficient strength and difficulty in improving the technical content of products as soon as possible may be blocked out of the EU market," Liu Tong said.
In addition to carbon tariffs, increasingly stringent emission standards in Europe and other places also test power battery enterprises. "Among the existing green standards of the European Union, the carbon emission standard for passenger cars produced in Europe is 95 g/km, which will be reduced to 81 g/km by 2025, and to 59 g/km by 2030. A fine of 95 euros (about 705 yuan) will be imposed for each gram exceeding the standard. The current regulations have already had an impact on many performance indicators such as the use and weight of raw materials for power batteries exported domestically." Jiang Zhenting, the process director of Guangdong Jiangpu New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., told China Auto News that such "green barriers" are forcing China's power battery enterprises to adapt and change in raw material selection, technology and process as soon as possible.
"The 'carbon barrier' has brought challenges to China's power battery enterprises and added pressure to our enterprises engaged in power battery export trade." The head of a foreign trade company in Shenzhen, who did not want to be named, told reporters that in recent years, due to the epidemic and other factors, the trade policies of Europe, America, Japan and South Korea have changed repeatedly. With the proposal of "double carbon" goal, "carbon barrier" also appeared. Although the "carbon barrier" is not as unacceptable as other trade barriers, it means that traders and power battery manufacturers need to pay more money and time to adjust and adapt. "This has also improved the traders' sense of smell 'of the market. We will pay attention to the changes of relevant overseas policies at any time, and discuss with the export enterprises in a timely manner the countermeasures," said the person in charge.
To deal with carbon barriers, we should avoid fighting alone and dismantling each other
Daimler has taken the carbon emission index as an important criterion for selecting suppliers, and said that some power batteries of the next generation can only be produced using renewable energy; BMW also reached an agreement with the supplier that it must use green power to produce cells; Volvo put forward that by 2025, the carbon emissions related to the global supply chain will be reduced by 25%, and said that the environmental protection and recyclability of raw materials is an important basis for entering Volvo's procurement list; Porsche asked its nearly 1300 parts suppliers to use renewable energy, and said that its flagship electric vehicle, Taycan Cross Turismo, would become the world's first full-life carbon-neutral vehicle. If the supplier could not meet Porsche's carbon emission plan, Porsche would no longer sign a contract with it. In order to adapt to the new policies of the country or region, European and American automobile enterprises have put forward new requirements for power battery suppliers.
It is urgent and arduous to deal with the "carbon barrier". Cui Qiqin, an expert of the Export Enterprises Branch of the Chinese Enterprise Management Association, suggested that power battery enterprises should, first, strengthen technological innovation in a targeted way, and drive all links of the battery industry chain with technological innovation. From the perspective of development trend, the realization of carbon neutrality in the power battery industry chain is a trend and an important way to improve the competitiveness of power battery export enterprises. For power battery enterprises, the key to reducing carbon emissions is to adopt new technologies, new materials and new processes. In the supply chain, from the development and design of batteries to research and trial production, from batch production to the selection of raw materials, almost every link can be deeply tapped to reduce carbon emissions. The second is to improve the recycling rate of key materials, and strive to improve energy efficiency and renewable resources utilization level, which is one of the important ways for power battery manufacturers to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality. In addition, if lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper and other resources in second-hand lithium batteries can be comprehensively utilized, the carbon reduction effect of 0.19 tons per kilowatt-hour can be achieved. Third, improve the construction of the carbon emission standard system for power batteries, explore the establishment of a standard system for the carbon emission of power batteries, positive and negative electrode materials, electrolyte, diaphragm, copper foil and other links throughout the life cycle, and meet the new requirements for the export of power battery products with strict carbon reduction technical indicators.
"To adapt to the new changes in the export market, it is necessary for domestic power battery enterprises to change their competitive concepts, not only rely on competing for quantity to win, but also rely on low-carbon new technologies and high-quality products to participate in the international market competition and break the 'carbon barrier' with their own strength." Xu Bonan believes that qualified domestic power battery enterprises should actively participate in the formulation of relevant technical standards of international organizations, Strengthen the communication with the export destination countries and customers, and timely grasp the policy changes of the other side, so as to respond quickly. "Whether the overseas market can become a new profit growth point for domestic power battery enterprises also depends on these factors," Xu Bonan said.
"Dialectically, facing the 'carbon barrier' and other adverse factors in the overseas market, China's power battery export has both challenges and opportunities." Sun Guohai believes that on the one hand, the competitive level of China's power battery industry chain is constantly improving; On the other hand, there are still some key core technology links that need to be improved. The "carbon barrier" in the international market is also forcing China's power battery enterprises to accelerate the pace of technological innovation, transformation and upgrading.
In fact, China's power battery enterprises, including Ningde Times, Vision Power, Yiwei Lithium Energy, Funeng Technology, Honeycomb Energy, AVIC Lithium, and Guoxuan Hi-Tech, have begun to focus on carbon emission reduction in the production and manufacturing process of power batteries. At the same time, in order to build the "carbon footprint" of batteries, power battery enterprises are also working with upstream materials, resources, equipment and other enterprises to jointly monitor the data of carbon emissions.
In the process of dealing with the "carbon barrier", whether the industrial chain can join hands becomes a new topic. "In terms of technological innovation, participation in market competition and efforts to break down the 'carbon barrier', enterprises will certainly go all out, but there is still a part of work that needs cooperation between enterprises and the support of relevant parties." Han Yuwen said, first, among domestic peer enterprises, we need to work together against the 'carbon barrier'. We should avoid fighting alone, especially not repeating the phenomenon of fighting against each other when exports are blocked that occurred in previous years. Second, it is hoped that relevant departments will organize professional resources to provide technical and business guidance to power battery enterprises and improve their ability to cope with the "carbon barrier". Third, the "carbon barrier" involves the entire power battery industry chain, and it is hoped that cooperation between the upstream and downstream of the industry chain will also be strengthened.
"Relevant departments should actively respond to the needs of enterprises and promote cooperation among enterprises; Second, it is necessary to guide the upstream and downstream enterprises of power battery to establish cooperation bodies, break through the internal barriers of carbon reduction, and achieve better cooperation; Third, relevant departments should make full use of or organize relevant resources to provide power battery export enterprises with policy, technology, organization, management, foreign trade and other knowledge guidance to deal with the "carbon barrier", and comprehensively improve the ability of export enterprises to deal with the "carbon barrier".
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