BATTERY 2030+: Large Scale, Long-Term EU Research Initiative

ReUse :  Efficient direct   recycling for low-value  LFP battery for circular and  sustainable waste management .  

ReUse  aims to develop innovative and sustainable recycling processes for LFP batteries, focusing on direct recycling and reuse of critical materials. By employing automated sorting, electrochemical re-lithiation, and microwave-assisted regeneration, the project seeks to achieve higher recovery rates of valuable components with lower energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions. The project also aims to establish a comprehensive monitoring framework and an online database to optimize battery reuse and contribute to a circular and competitive European battery ecosystem. The ReUse project is co-funded by the European Union and the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) under Grant Agreement No. 101137774.

RENOVATE - A Circular and Chemistry-Neutral Approach for Recycling and Recovery of Battery Waste Feeds

RENOVATE is a three-year project aimed at developing and demonstrating new circular economy solutions for the European battery value-chain by recycling and re-using 100% of End-of-life batteries, battery components (e.g., metallic foil, graphite) and industrial side streams (e.g., waste chemicals, solvents, and scraps). This will reduce the demand for virgin materials, the dependence on suppliers and the generation of residues going to landfill while preserving health and the environment. 

To achieve this goal, holistic, flexible, and closed-loop processes for End-of-Life batteries based on both low (LFP) and high (e.g. NMC) energy density chemistries will be validated and designed to allow a real and easily implementable “net zero carbon” process, while ensuring a low impact and low energy use.

STREAMS- Sustainable Technologies for Reducing Europe’s bAttery raw MaterialS dependence

STREAMS Project (Grant No. 101137771) is a three-year initiative dedicated to strengthening Europe’s battery materials supply chain by reducing dependency on imported critical raw materials (lithium, nickel, cobalt, etc.). The project aims to enhance Europe’s resilience, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy in the global battery sector. 

STREAMS will focus on: 1/ Developing innovative and sustainable technologies for recovering and producing battery-grade precursors, anode, and cathode materials. 2/ Diversifying material sources, integrating both primary and secondary raw materials, as well as recycled battery components, to reduce reliance on third countries. 3/ Implementing circular models, enabling sustainable battery cell manufacturing at pilot scale and ensuring compliance with EU regulations and industry standards. 

Li4Life aims to increase the EU domestic supply of Lithium to contribute the needs of the EU Battery Industry.

We will extract samples form deposits with poor and/or complex ores (petalite, lepidolite, swinefordite and zinnwaldite) and post-mining tailings (mining waste). The extraction sites are in Spain, Finland and Serbia.

Li4Life will develop new chemical and mechanical processes for the extraction and concentration of lithium Li-carbonate production. 

Li4Life will integrate the processes in an industrial plant that jointly addresses the production process, to estimate the economic viability of the industrial production of Li carbonate from the ores studied.

Strategically we will develop and design new business models for the implementation of our solutions, and ensure compliance with EU ecological framework.

Li4Life is a Research and Innovation Actions project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme - Grant Agreement. N° 101137932

INERRANT - Integrating Novel Materials with Scalable Processes for Safer and Recyclable Li-ion Batteries

The INERRANT project aims to establish new standards for safety and sustainability in large-scale lithium-ion battery (LIB) production by developing cutting-edge materials, advanced electrolyte formulations, and environmentally friendly recycling methods. 

This holistic approach addresses every stage of the battery lifecycle—from design and manufacturing to end-of-life recycling—while aiming to meet the technical and economic targets outlined in the 2030 European SET Plan for Gen 3 LIBs and reduce dependence on critical raw materials.

Leveraging state-of-the-art science and technology to create safer and more sustainable Gen3 LIBs to be used in mobility applications, INERRANT paves the way for a greener and more secure future for mobility. The three-year project receives funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme under Grant Agreement No. 101147457.

OPERA-Development Of Operando Techniques And Multiscale Modelling To Face The Zero-excess solid-state batteries, made from abundant, green, and safe materials, hold great promise for sustainable energy. To accelerate their development, OPERA integrates cutting-edge experimental and computational methods by partners from all over Europe.

They proposed a unique strategy to face the challenges of this technology. It relies on the development of novel experimental techniques with a resolution down to the atomic scale. They provide information on multiaxial stress fields, chemical composition, nucleation and growth kinetics, structural defect formation and degradation of model cells. These insights are used for a novel multiscale modelling approach supported by machine-learning algorithms.

The project goals ultimately lead to a deep conceptual understanding and innovative improvement approaches for this type of energy storage technology. This will be an important step towards increasing the global competitiveness, resilience, and independence of the EU.

HEALING BAT meant to develop advanced sensing, monitoring, and self-healing mechanisms to self-repair batteries.

 Within 4 years,  the Horizon Europe project will develop and implement self-healing materials and healing strategies in key battery components, used in the conventional lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery, and extrapolate the designs and concepts to develop a new class of self-restoring LiS batteries.

HEALING BAT will also create a toolbox consisting of self-healing materials, battery sensors and bespoke battery management systems (BMS), with the aim of maximising the performance of the developed Li-S battery in terms of quality, reliability and lifetime, as well as avoiding or timely healing occurring damages that could lead to battery degradation.

  Funded by European Commission and the respective UK and Swiss funding agencies, under the umbrella of the Horizon Europe programme for research and innovation. 

BATTwin: Flexible and scalable digital-twin platform for enhanced production efficiency and yield in battery cell production lines. The objective of BATTwin is to support the high demand for battery manufacturing equipment in Europe, by developing a novel Multi-level Digital Twin platform towards Zero-Defect Manufacturing in battery production, that will reduce defect rates in battery production lines. The solution integrates four pillars, namely (i) a multi-sensor data acquisition and management layer, supported by data semantics through a Digital Battery Passport data model, (ii) process-level digital twins, modelling the critical stages of electrode manufacturing, cell assembly and conditioning through multi-physics, data-driven and hybrid approaches, (iii) system-level digital twins, based on simulation and analytical modelling, (iv) user-centric, goal-driven digital twin workflows, increasing the explainability of digital twins and driving the user in system design and control.

SALAMANDER - Smart sensors and self-healing functionalities embedded for battery longevity with manufacturability and economical recyclability. The objective of the project is to develop and integrate embedded sensors and self-healing functionalities, specifically, a self-healing functionality embedded directly into the electrode which is triggered by external stimuli based on internal sensors communicating with a battery management system (BMS). The project aims to develop and integrate embedded sensors and self-healing functionality in Li ion batteries (LIB) to enhance their quality, reliability, and lifetime. To achieve this goal, the project proposes 3 types of sensors with 2 types of self-healing mechanisms to counteract the most threatening and damaging reactions that occur in a typical LIB. The outcomes of the project will meet the goal of BATTERY 2030+ for a competitive, sustainable European battery value chain and a more circular economy.

PHOENIX is an ambitious project supporting the development of smart, technologically advanced and sustainable batteries. With a strong focus on safety, durability, and environmental impact, the project explores innovative self-healing functionalities, advanced sensing, and tailored triggering mechanisms, integrated directly into battery cells. By embedding sensors (mechanical, thermal, impedance, gas, and reference electrodes) and novel self-healing materials, PHOENIX aims to extend battery lifespan and reliability. An intelligent Battery Management System (BMS) will monitor cell health, detect degradation, and activate healing responses in real time. The technologies will be validated in Gen 3b and 4a Li-ion cells under demanding conditions, with a strong emphasis on recyclability and scalable manufacturing, paving the way for more resilient and sustainable battery systems. PHOENIX has received funding from the European Union’s research and innovation programme Horizon Europe under the grant agreement No.101103702.