well as community colleges can develop specialized courses and programmes for some jobs, especially those connected to EOL management. Battery manufacturers, automakers, recyclers, repurposing companies and other industry stakeholders throughout the value chain should collaborate on the development of these programmes to ensure that the training is up to date, is relevant to industry needs, and provides appropriate safety training. For example, with the support of Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, UL Research Institutes and other private-sector players, the University of California San Diego’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and Sustainable Power and Energy Center introduced a “battery boot camp” that focuses on design principles and operation mechanisms of LIBs.142 In another instance, in response to LG Energy Solution announcing a $1.7 billion expansion in operations that will require 1,200 workers with a background in energy storage manufacturing, Grand Rapids Community College introduced a battery bootcamp focused on providing certificates in battery manufacturing and power storage.143 Government can also play a role in curriculum development by identifying common skills and training required across multiple employers and sectors within the circular battery economy.144 For example, the US Department of Energy has established a panel of industry experts that will help build consensus on core training needs and implement standardized training guidance that can be used by companies and local training programmes.145 Government support might also be needed to regulate standardized certification and education programmes to ensure all workers have the level of skill needed to safely handle batteries. Educational programmes and certifications need to be standardized to ensure all workers have the skills they need to ensure quality, effectiveness, worker safety and consumer safety. Certification development and standardization might also require continuous professional development for some jobs, to ensure workers have the skills they need as battery chemistry, manufacturing processes and EOL management processes evolve.146 Powering the Future: Overcoming Battery Supply Chain Challenges with Circularity 34

Powering the Future 2025