{
"authors": [
"Milo McBride",
"Leonardo Martinez-Diaz",
"Darcie Draudt-Véjares",
"Herbert Crowther",
"Bryan Billie",
"Walter James",
"Daevan Mangalmurti",
"Jonas Goldman",
"Tom Moerenhout",
"Sarah Ladislaw"
],
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"centers": [
"Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
],
"englishNewsletterAll": "ctw",
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"primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
"programAffiliation": "SCP",
"programs": [
"Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics"
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"topics": [
"Energy",
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}
Battery Geopolitics: Inside the High-Tech Race to Store Energy
Tue, September 29th, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EDT)
Live Online
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Countries around the world are scrambling to build their own manufacturing bases for lithium-ion batteries, the primary product used to store energy. These batteries are not simply powering computers or smart phones—they have emerged as essential geostrategic products of the future. Batteries are the backbone of a clean power grid, a competitive automobile industry, and essential to the frontiers of warfare. At the moment, the products, innovation, and supply chain are overwhelmingly dominated by China. How might other countries develop industries to compete, and what can they learn from one another to strengthen their position?
Join the Carnegie Endowment for a conversation drawing on recent research evaluating the latest in battery technology and market trends. Moderated by Milo McBride, a fellow in Carnegie’s Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program, this panel brings together regional experts to provide deep dives into how China, South Korea, Japan, the United States, Europe, Canada, and India have sought to spur domestic battery supply chains and innovation ecosystems. He will be joined by Leonardo Martinez-Diaz, Sarah Ladislaw, Herbert Crowther, Bryan Bille, Tom Moerenhout, Darcie Draudt-Véjares, Walter James, Jonas Goldman, and Daevan Mangulmurti.
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
Event Speakers
Fellow, Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program
Milo McBride is a fellow in the Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Senior Fellow and Director, Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program
Leonardo Martinez-Diaz is senior fellow and director of the Sustainability, Climate, and Geopolitics Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. His fields of expertise include climate politics and diplomacy, climate finance, and mitigating and managing the risks of climate change to economies and communities.
Fellow, Asia Program
Darcie Draudt-Véjares is a fellow in the Carnegie Asia Program.
Herbert Crowther
Senior Analyst, Eurasia Group
Herbert Crowther is a Senior Analyst with Eurasia Group's Energy, Climate & Resources team. Herbert covers the domestic politics of the energy transition in China and the US, global new energy supply chains, and the US-China energy/climate relationship.
Bryan Billie
Policy and Geopolitical Lead, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence
Bryan Bille currently oversees Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s geopolitical and policy analysis, through forecasting reports, written and video briefings, and strategic advisory services across the EV value chain, from critical mineral extraction to vehicle production. He is also a fellow at the Geneva Platform for Resilient Value Chains and a Special Advisor to the Paris Peace Forum's Global Council on Transition Minerals.
Walter James
Energy Finance Specialist, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis
Walter James is an Energy Finance Specialist at IEEFA with a particular focus on LNG, renewables, hydrogen, ammonia, and data centers in Japan. His commentary and analysis have been published in The Japan Times, East Asia Forum, Capital & Climate Media, Green Central Banking, Energy Tracker Asia, and elsewhere.
Former Research Assistant, Sustainability, Climate and Geopolitics Program
Daevan Mangalmurti was a research assistant in the Sustainability, Climate and Geopolitics Program.
Jonas Goldman
Senior Research Associate, Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab
Jonas Goldman is a Senior Research Associate at the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab. He holds a Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University. He has served in technical and policy roles in government and civil society on issues of energy industrial policy, energy security, and supply chain interdependence. Jonas is also an inaugural fellow with the Climate Security Association of Canada. His published work can be found in various outlets, including Foreign Affairs, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune.
Tom Moerenhout
Research Scholar, Center on Global Energy Policy
Dr. Tom Moerenhout is a Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and leads the Critical Materials Initiative at Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy. His work extends to roles as Senior Advisor at the World Bank Energy and Extractives Group, Executive Director at the Geneva Platform for Resilient Value Chains, and Senior Associate at the International Institute for Sustainable Development and Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals and Metals.
Sarah Ladislaw
Founding Director, New Energy Industrial Strategy Center
Sarah Ladislaw is the founding director of the New Energy Industrial Strategy (NEIS) Center. Previously, Sarah served as senior director for climate and energy, National Security Council at the White House from January 2023 to August 2024. Sarah was managing director for RMI's US program where she managed the direction and portfolio of RMI's work in the United States, specifically in the areas of federal, state, and local engagement as well as economic development.