Emma Nehrenheim has been appointed the new Managing Director of the European Battery Alliance (EBA), a European Commission-led initiative aimed at building a competitive and sustainable battery industry across the EU. The announcement was made by InnoEnergy, which coordinates the alliance on behalf of the Commission.
Nehrenheim joins EBA from InnoEnergy and brings over 20 years of experience in environmental technology and battery manufacturing. Most recently, she served as Chief Environmental Officer and President of Northvolt Materials. She succeeds Thore Sekkenes, who led the EBA’s industrial division for more than six years.
“Our mission isn’t just to build a battery industry, but to make it European, shaped by our standards, driven by our innovation, and powered by our industrial strength,” Nehrenheim said in a statement. “The transition is going to happen. The real question is whether Europe will secure a meaningful share of it.”
Nehrenheim was also involved in the drafting of the EU Battery Regulation, adopted in August 2023, which mandates carbon footprint disclosures, recycling targets, and full traceability of battery materials through digital passports. The regulation forms a key part of the EU’s Green Deal.
Diego Pavía, CEO of InnoEnergy, underlined the urgency of building a resilient battery value chain. “The next 4–5 years will be critical,” he said. “Europe’s automotive sector accounts for 7% of GDP and supports 13 million jobs. By 2030, we aim to raise this to 8%, adding €300 billion in annual GDP and creating one million new jobs.”
Nehrenheim’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the EBA, as the bloc intensifies efforts to secure raw materials, expand cell manufacturing, and advance circularity through battery recycling—seen as essential for the EU to compete with Asia and the U.S. in the fast-evolving battery market.