FREE4LIB

FREE4LIB (Feasible REcovery of Critical Raw Materials through a New Circular Ecosystem FOR a Li-Ion Battery Cross-value Chain in Europe) aims to develop new technologies in order to implement innovative recycling processes and solutions which make it possible to achieve high efficiency in material recovery (metal oxides, metals, and polymers) and thereby improve the supply of secondary resources at EU level.

Currently, less than 5% of materials from lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are recycled. Additionally, battery recycling processes are energy-intensive and/or produce large amounts of waste. Therefore, it is essential to increase their efficiency and improve raw material recovery rates.

FREE4LIB aims to develop greener technologies for battery regeneration, as well as explore options for using non-reusable elements in other fields. The project also provides a methodology based on the principles of the Battery Passport, to enhance process traceability.

Specifically, the project’s objectives are the following:

• Creation of feasible and holistic recycling processes by analysing and evaluating data from LIBs
• Development of sustainable and efficient technological solutions for recycling different LIB materials
• Increase of the amount of resources recovered from spent LIBs, to use as secondary raw materials in new batteries
• Design for Recycling (DfR) of new LIBs
• Creation of battery recycling modelling platforms
• Research on 21 technologies covering the entire LIB value chain

Within the project, ITL contributes to data collection and analysis of the current value chain for end-of-life batteries, considering the sector’s evolution in the short to medium term. The foundation also participates in communication and dissemination activities aimed at engaging various stakeholders along the value chain.

Lead Partner:

Asociación de Investigación de Materiales Plásticos y Conexas (AIMPLAS), ES

Partners:

Fundacion CARTIF, ES

Accurec-Recycling GmbH, DE

Association des Fabricants Europeens d’Accumulateurs Automobiles et Industriels (EUROBAT), FR

AVL List GmbH, AT

Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior De Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC), ES

Erion Energy, IT

Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten, DE

Fundacio EURECAT, ES

Fundacio Institut De Recerca De L’energia De Catalunya (IREC-CERCA), ES

Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK), IT

Fondazione Istituto sui Trasporti e la Logistica (ITL), IT

L’Urederra, Fundacion Para El Desarrollo Tecnologico Y Social (LUREDERRA), ES

NextMove (MOV’EO), FR

Nesstec Enerji Ve Yuzey Teknolojileri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, TR

Politecnico Di Milano, IT

Sig De Raee Y Pilas Sociedad Limitada (RECYCLIA), ES

Sakarya Universitesi, TR

Torrecid SA, ES

Universitaet Graz, AT

Watt4Ever, BE