Battery technology is considered one of the key technologies for the future energy transition. However, in order to use a new technology profitably, a high level of knowledge and the appropriate qualifications of skilled workers are essential. Initial initiatives are now bearing fruit. A concrete example is the B3 project – Bavarian Battery Training Network, in which the SKZ Plastics Center is also heavily involved.

The project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE), actively supports the transition to electromobility and a sustainable battery recycling economy. The aim is to provide targeted and free training for skilled workers along the entire battery value chain.

To this end, six renowned research centers and two experienced educational institutions are pooling their scientific and didactic expertise. Together, they are developing practical training programs to help companies in Bavaria and throughout Germany cope with technological change.

German industry – especially the automotive sector – is undergoing profound change. The development, production, and recycling of modern battery systems require specialized know-how: from material selection, cell design, and system integration to dismantling and recycling.

Over the past 18 months, more than 320 skilled workers from 84 companies have been trained in 35 courses. Starting in September 2025, the established training program will enter a new phase with 15 modular training courses covering the entire battery value chain.
A special highlight are the new hands-on practical training courses at the research partners‘ sites in Bavaria. In small groups, participants will gain practical insights into the manufacture of electrodes, the handling of different cell formats, their diagnostics, and the measurement and dismantling of battery modules for the recycling process.

In addition to the training courses, the project offers B3 impulse lectures – a compact webinar format that regularly highlights current developments and trends in the battery world.

The next event will take place on Friday, July 11, 2025, on the topic of “Battery Passport – The Digital Product Passport for Batteries.” This will become mandatory throughout the EU in 2027. Carolin Langfeldt (Circulor) has been brought on board as an expert to provide exciting insights into the implementation and significance of the battery passport.

“I am delighted that, in addition to providing basic information on battery technology from renowned experts, we have also succeeded in transferring knowledge about current regulatory developments into practice, thus making current topics quickly available to the industry,” says Matthias Gerhard, Project Manager for Battery and E-Mobility Education at SKZ.

The SKZ is a climate protection company and a member of the Zuse Association. This is an association of independent, industry-related research institutions that pursue the goal of improving the performance and competitiveness of industry, especially SMEs, through innovation and networking.