UL Solutions Opens Europe Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory in Aachen, Germany, Marking a Major Expansion in Global Battery Safety and Performance Capabilities
UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, has announced the opening of its cutting-edge Europe Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory in Aachen, Germany. This new facility represents a significant leap forward in the company’s global strategy for battery testing and certification, enhancing its capacity to serve the rapidly evolving electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage markets.
The newly built laboratory is designed specifically to address the increasing demand for reliable and sophisticated battery testing services throughout Europe and beyond. With electric mobility and renewable energy integration gaining momentum worldwide, the need for comprehensive, independent battery evaluations has never been more critical. Located in the heart of Europe’s industrial and automotive manufacturing hub, the Aachen facility is expected to play a crucial role in accelerating innovation and ensuring safety in battery technologies.
Addressing Market Demand Amid Energy Transition
Battery technology is at the core of the global transition to sustainable energy systems. The growing adoption of EVs, the shift toward decentralized renewable power, and the rising importance of energy storage systems (ESS) all depend heavily on the performance, durability, and safety of batteries. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global battery demand surged by 35% in 2023, with projections indicating a tenfold increase in the coming years. Similarly, deployment of battery storage systems in the power sector rose by more than 130% in the same year, underlining a global shift toward electrification and decarbonization.
UL Solutions’ expansion into Aachen comes at this pivotal time. The facility will focus on both developmental and final product testing for industrial and EV battery systems. This dual-purpose capability enables battery manufacturers to validate their designs during early R&D phases and gain the certifications necessary to bring products to international markets.
“Our new location in Germany provides us with access to the region’s deep engineering talent and places us close to many of our key European customers,” said Jennifer Scanlon, president and CEO of UL Solutions. “We are meeting our customers where they are, helping the automotive and power sectors safely innovate in a world increasingly reliant on battery storage.”
Built From the Ground Up for Advanced Testing
Unlike retrofitted buildings or legacy facilities, the Aachen laboratory was purpose-built to serve the unique and demanding requirements of battery testing. This includes an extensive range of specialized infrastructure to support high-voltage systems, fire mitigation controls, and advanced diagnostics. The site’s design ensures the flexibility to accommodate new testing protocols as battery chemistries and architectures evolve over time.
The new laboratory replaces a smaller facility previously operated by BatterieIngenieure, a battery testing and simulation company that UL Solutions acquired in 2024. That acquisition brought with it considerable expertise in battery performance analysis, simulation, and failure mode investigation, laying the foundation for this more advanced and expansive site.
The Aachen lab is particularly strong in estimating battery lifespan—a capability increasingly vital to automakers, ESS developers, and end users. Predicting how long a battery will maintain performance under varying usage scenarios is key to ensuring consumer satisfaction, financial viability, and regulatory compliance. The ability to simulate real-world degradation over time enables stakeholders to make more informed product design and purchasing decisions.
A Strategic European Hub
The location in Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, offers strategic advantages for UL Solutions and its clients. As Germany remains one of the world’s largest automotive and engineering markets, the site is ideally situated to serve OEMs, tier-1 suppliers, and battery manufacturers operating across Western and Central Europe. Additionally, the facility’s proximity to major academic and industrial research centers allows for ongoing collaboration with leading battery scientists and innovators.
Importantly, this laboratory is UL Solutions’ first European facility dedicated entirely to comprehensive battery testing services. It is staffed by a team of battery science experts specializing in safety assessments, electrical performance evaluations, environmental testing, and failure analysis. These capabilities support customers across the entire battery development lifecycle—from initial material selection through production readiness and field operation.
Rigorous Safety and Performance Testing
The Aachen facility is equipped to perform an array of rigorous tests that simulate real-world abuse, environmental stressors, and extreme operating conditions. These include:
- Thermal Runaway Testing: Evaluates how batteries behave under internal failure conditions that can trigger uncontrollable heat buildup, pressure, and potential explosion.
- Mechanical Abuse Testing: Simulates crushing, puncturing, and vibration to assess structural integrity under accident scenarios.
- Electrical Abuse Testing: Tests overcharging, short-circuiting, and other faults to determine risk mitigation performance.
- Gas Emission Testing: Identifies potentially hazardous gases released during failure to ensure compliance with occupational safety standards.
- Cycle Life and Calendar Aging Tests: Provides insight into battery longevity under repeated use or long-term storage.
- Environmental Testing: Exposes batteries to humidity, corrosion, extreme temperatures, and altitude variations.
All testing is aligned with globally recognized safety and performance standards, including those from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), UL Standards & Engagement, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
By adhering to these rigorous protocols, the Aachen laboratory helps manufacturers prove that their battery systems meet or exceed critical benchmarks for market entry. Certifications from UL Solutions carry significant weight in the international marketplace, often serving as a key differentiator in competitive tenders or regulatory compliance.
Part of a Growing Global Network
The Aachen lab becomes the latest addition to UL Solutions’ global network of battery testing and certification facilities, expanding the company’s ability to serve clients across key international regions. Other notable locations include:
- North America Advanced Battery Laboratory – Auburn Hills, Michigan
- Advanced Battery Testing Laboratory – Northbrook, Illinois
- EV Charging Test Laboratories – Fremont, California; Northbrook, Illinois; Frankfurt, Germany
- UL Solutions E-Mobility and Energy Laboratory – Changzhou, China
- Advanced Battery Testing and Engineering Laboratory – Pyeongtaek, South Korea
- CHAdeMO EV Quick Charger Matching Center – Ise, Mie, Japan
- EV and Micromobility Laboratory – Luzhu, Taiwan
This global infrastructure supports UL Solutions’ strategy of providing localized expertise with global consistency, ensuring customers receive the same high standards of service and reporting wherever they operate. It also enables faster project turnarounds, localized language support, and closer alignment with regional regulations and market dynamics.
Enabling a Safer, More Sustainable Battery Future
UL Solutions has long positioned itself at the forefront of battery innovation and safety, contributing to the development of testing methodologies, training programs, and industry standards that shape the future of energy storage. The opening of the Aachen facility marks a new chapter in that commitment, underscoring the company’s role in supporting a safer and more sustainable energy transition.
“As battery technologies continue to evolve, so too must the systems we use to evaluate their safety and performance,” said Scanlon. “With this new facility, we’re providing the expertise, equipment, and local access our customers need to develop the next generation of battery-powered solutions with confidence.”
By combining technical excellence with regulatory insight and global reach, UL Solutions is helping to drive progress in electric mobility, stationary storage, and renewable energy systems—sectors that will define the energy landscape for decades to come.
