Project description
Bolstering digital resilience in CRM value chains
With the global push towards sustainable energy, the demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements has surged. However, securing a steady supply chain for these materials poses a significant challenge due to their scarcity and geopolitical complexities. Disruptions, such as the recent blockage of the Suez Canal, further highlight the fragility of these supply chains, threatening industries reliant on CRMs for green technologies. In this context, the EU-funded MaaSiveTwin project will track and optimise the mining, processing, and transportation of CRMs. By enhancing supply chain efficiency, reducing uncertainty, and supporting informed decision-making, MaaSiveTwin fosters the transition to a greener economy. Real-time data analysis spans CRM mining, shipping, processing, and sustainability, with scenario predictions aiding resilience.
Objective
MaaSiveTwin aligns with the vision of creating a competitive and sustainable digital Europe and green value chain by even combining the two aspects! This twin enables Manufacturing as a Service by tracking mining and processing of critical raw materials (CRM) which will be tested by the first Li-refinery in Europe, RockTech and the first large scale LiFePO4 battery manufacturer, ElevenEs. The twin helps to improve efficiency of the supply chain, reduce uncertainty, and support informed decision making, all of which are critical for supporting the transition to a more sustainable economy. MaaSiveTwin will provide real-time data analysis and insights of CRM mining, shipping, processing, and sustainability. Additionally, by predicting scenarios based on disruptive events such as Suez channel blockage, the tool will enable participants to use other suppliers as Manufacturers as a Service in case of Supply Chain disruption to keep machinery in their factories running, increase utilisation and enable fully integrated, resilient value chains from mining of CRM till the end products.
MaaSiveTwin extends the analysis of critical materials for e.g Li, Co, Ni that go into batteries, light and heavy rare earth elements that go into magnets for wind turbines and e-motors, Vanadium for redox flow cells, Pt for H2 fuel cells and many more to enable the transition to green energy technologies which are based on CRMs to achieve the Green deal goals, “fit-for-55” and the EU critical raw material act which was proposed in 03/2023. This digital twin will track the path towards our ambiguous EU goals and make European CRM value chains more digital and more resilient.
Fields of science
- natural scienceschemical sciencesinorganic chemistrytransition metals
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringmining and mineral processing
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energywind power
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfuel cells
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
39606 OSTERBURG
Germany
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.