Berlin, March 19, 2026 – The Berlin Battery Lab (BBL) has been officially inaugurated, marking a significant step forward in the research and development of sustainable battery technologies. This new research platform unites the expertise of the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), the Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB), and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU) in a collaborative effort to develop and test resource-efficient battery systems, with a particular focus on sodium-based solutions.
Joint Research for Future Battery Technologies
The BBL will serve as a central hub where the three institutions will jointly develop new materials, investigate innovative cell chemistries, and produce battery prototypes. This collaborative approach aims to bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial application, accelerating the transfer of sustainable innovations into practice.
Dr. Ina Czyborra, Berlin’s Senator for Science, Health and Care, emphasized the strategic importance of the BBL: “The Berlin Battery Lab illustrates Berlin’s strength in strategically bringing together top-level research and technological needs – through close cooperation between three outstanding partners and a short path from research to application. Battery research is a key technology on the High-Tech Agenda. The Berlin Battery Lab strengthens Germany’s technological sovereignty by reducing dependence on critical raw materials and increasing the resilience of key value chains.” The State of Berlin is supporting the BBL with an additional €2.4 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) between 2026 and 2028.
Bridging the Gap from Research to Application
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne, President of BAM, highlighted the lab’s role in accelerating the application of new technologies. “Many new battery technologies are being developed in Germany, but they are not reaching application quickly enough. This is exactly where the Berlin Battery Lab makes a difference: here in Berlin, we bring together research, development and cell manufacturing while integrating safety considerations and regulatory requirements to help transfer sustainable innovations into practice.”
Prof. Dr. Julia von Blumenthal, President of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, underscored the BBL’s contribution to a sustainable energy future. “Batteries are a key technology for the sustainable energy supply of the future. The Berlin Battery Lab consolidates the expertise of three outstanding research institutions in this field at the Berlin location. The Berlin Battery Lab will span the entire research chain, facilitate collaboration with industry and accelerate the processes leading to practical application. It will create innovations and thus make an important contribution to addressing one of the central challenges of our time.”
Prof. Dr. Bernd Rech, Scientific Director of HZB, detailed HZB’s contributions: “At the Berlin Battery Lab, we combine our diverse competencies to accelerate development and technology transfer to industry. At HZB, we are establishing a new pouch-cell laboratory for sodium-ion batteries and providing state-of-the-art characterization methods at BESSY II.”
Complementary Expertise for Comprehensive Research
The BBL integrates the complementary expertise of the participating institutions:
- BAM: Contributes internationally recognized expertise in battery safety and the development of innovative energy materials.
- HU Berlin: A leading academic research institution in the field of sodium-ion batteries.
- HZB: Provides extensive experience in lithium-sulfur battery research and operates BESSY II, a powerful X-ray source crucial for studying battery-chemical processes.
This combined knowledge base allows the BBL to systematically address fundamental research, materials development, cell design, and safety testing within a single research environment.
Open to External Partners and Start-ups
The research infrastructure of the Berlin Battery Lab is also open to external partners from science and industry. This open approach is designed to foster collaboration and significantly support the development of locally produced, sustainable battery technologies, particularly benefiting start-ups and technology-oriented companies.
Wilhelm-Ostwald Fellowship Awarded
During the inauguration, Prof. Dr. Philipp Adelhelm (HU), one of the three scientific directors of the Berlin Battery Lab, received a Wilhelm-Ostwald Fellowship from BAM. This award recognizes his significant contributions to the physical chemistry of batteries, especially in sodium-ion technology, and will further strengthen the interdisciplinary exchange and scientific collaboration within the BBL.
The Berlin Battery Lab represents a crucial step in strengthening Germany’s technological sovereignty and reducing dependence on critical raw materials, contributing significantly to a more resilient and sustainable energy future.
Source: https://www.adlershof.de/en/news/berlin-battery-lab-officially-inaugurated
