BESS & Akropolis

A recently published article by Energypress, titled “Athanasopoulos: The Sunlight Gigafactory Will Not Proceed – Conditions Are Missing”, raises critical questions about the future of the European battery industry. In this article, Mr. Andreas Athanasopoulos, CEO of Sunlight Group, highlights the obstacles European companies face in building new capacity—from insufficient investment to suboptimal market conditions.

As CEO of QAES Europe GmbH, I aim to kick off the discussion with this post and share my perspective on subsidies, quality, and the lessons Europe—and particularly Greece—can learn from successful approaches.
Read the original article (in Greek) here: https://energypress.gr/news/athanasopoylos-den-prokeitai-na-prohorisei-gigafactory-tis-sunlight-den-yparhoyn-oi

How QAES Europe GmbH is Shaping the Energy Transition and What Lessons Europe Can Learn

The European battery industry is at a crossroads. Subsidies and technological risks dominate the discussion, but long-term success requires a broader strategy.

Quality Issues and Production Delays:
The recent challenges faced by Northvolt highlight the dangers of scaling rapidly without sufficient investment in research and development (R&D). Production issues and quality deficiencies not only undermine brand trust but also threaten Europe’s overall competitiveness in the global battery market.

Subsidies – A Double-Edged Sword:
Subsidies can help build industrial capacity, but they cannot replace innovation. As the CEO of QAES Europe GmbH, a new player with strong ties to a leading Chinese battery producer, I believe subsidies should be directed toward genuine technological advancements and sustainable business models to ensure long-term independence.

What Europe Can Learn:
At QAES Europe GmbH, our approach is built on world-leading technology, extensive research, and a clear scaling strategy. This combination could serve as a model for Europe. The region’s strengths—particularly its focus on quality, sustainability, and strategic planning—must be consistently combined with innovative technologies. Only then can Europe achieve long-term success and secure its independence.

What We Can Learn from Europe:
Europe is distinguished by its high-quality standards, sustainable business models, and clear regulatory orientation. At QAES, we integrate these values into our processes and see them as essential contributions to shaping a sustainable energy future.

Our Role in Europe:
QAES Europe GmbH brings state-of-the-art CATL technology to the European market. With tailored solutions and a clear focus on quality and efficiency, we aim to actively contribute to the energy transition while serving as a bridge between the strengths of China and Europe.

Conclusion:
The European battery industry has the opportunity to take a leading role in the global market by focusing on innovation, quality, and sustainability. QAES Europe GmbH is ready to support this vision through partnerships and technological excellence.