Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REINFORCE (STANDARDISED, AUTOMATED, SAFE AND COST-EFFICIENT PROCESSING OF END-OF-LIFE BATTERIES FOR SECOND AND THIRD LIFE RE-USE AND RECYCLING)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2023-06-01 do 2024-11-30
The REINFORCE project is part of the EU’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. As batteries play a crucial role in decarbonizing industries and transport, ensuring their sustainability is essential. However, the growing demand for batteries raises concerns about geopolitical dependencies on raw materials and the environmental impact at the end of their life. REINFORCE aims to tackle these challenges by focusing on the circularity of batteries. The project strives to optimize the collection, sorting, diagnostics, dismantling, and recycling processes of end-of-life (EoL) batteries, transforming them into a valuable resource for new battery production.
Key objectives include defining the technical specifications and standards for battery repurposing, improving logistics and sorting systems, developing automation for safe battery disassembly, and creating traceability systems. The project will demonstrate these innovations in a real battery remanufacturing plant. With a focus on 2nd and 3rd life applications, REINFORCE aims to reduce dependency on raw materials and foster the circular economy through scalable solutions.
REINFORCE seeks to enhance Europe's global competitiveness in battery technologies, accelerate electrified mobility, and support sustainable manufacturing. The project's expected impacts extend to environmental benefits, such as reducing CO2 emissions and increasing resource efficiency, while fostering economic growth and technological leadership in the EU's battery industry. Through its innovative approaches, REINFORCE contributes to the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan and strengthens Europe's position in the battery value chain.
Key objectives include defining the technical specifications and standards for battery repurposing, improving logistics and sorting systems, developing automation for safe battery disassembly, and creating traceability systems. The project will demonstrate these innovations in a real battery remanufacturing plant. With a focus on 2nd and 3rd life applications, REINFORCE aims to reduce dependency on raw materials and foster the circular economy through scalable solutions.
REINFORCE seeks to enhance Europe's global competitiveness in battery technologies, accelerate electrified mobility, and support sustainable manufacturing. The project's expected impacts extend to environmental benefits, such as reducing CO2 emissions and increasing resource efficiency, while fostering economic growth and technological leadership in the EU's battery industry. Through its innovative approaches, REINFORCE contributes to the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan and strengthens Europe's position in the battery value chain.
Process Design and Standards:
- Five deliverables addressed designs, specifications, standards, and requirements for the reuse, repurposing, and recycling of EoL batteries. Over 20 KPIs were established, optimizing material recycling and enabling battery passports.
- Deliverables: D2.1 D2.2 D2.3 D2.4 D2.5
Diagnostics and Reverse Logistics:
- Diagnostics processes for EoL batteries were developed to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Comprehensive studies assessed risks in collection and transportation, outlining best practices based on transport modes.
- A streamlined logistics chain was proposed to improve assessment during collection, aiming for a 75% reduction in diagnostics time and 50% fewer decision errors.
- Deliverables: D3.1 D4.1
Reverse Logistics Systems:
- A prototype was developed to improve battery transportation monitoring and safety, with initial testing informing sensor placement and design. Certified through stacking, drop, and fire tests, initial trials reduced risks.
- Guidelines were drafted to standardize collection and transport, focusing on cost reduction and accident elimination.
- Deliverables (in progress): D3.2 D3.3 D3.4
Automated Assessment and Sorting:
- Significant progress was made on tools for fast, precise battery assessments. A diagnostics tool concept was defined, integrating hardware and vision systems for defect detection.
- Methods for safe and efficient battery discharge were advanced, targeting faster cycles and higher energy recovery rates.
- Battery traceability systems were developed, including hardware compatibility and data management frameworks.
- Deliverables (in progress): D4.2 D4.3 D4.4 D4.5
Disassembly and Reassembly:
- Safer, more efficient battery disassembly methods were developed, supported by automation and specialized equipment.
- Key advancements in dismantling, module separation, fire containment, and storage improved sorting performance and cost-efficiency.
- Disassembly solutions now process four battery packs daily, increasing speed and reducing risks.
- Efforts to validate hybrid solar energy storage systems progressed, with groundwork set for future use.
- Deliverables: D5.1 D5.2
- Deliverables (in progress): D5.3 D5.4 D5.5
Circular Economy and Sustainability:
- Mapping the circular battery value chain laid the groundwork for sustainable business models. Progress in lifecycle assessments informed economic, environmental, and social impact analysis.
- A sustainability platform was launched to simulate circular business models, guiding optimal battery repurposing strategies and encouraging sustainable practices.
- Deliverables: D7.1 D7.2 D7.3
- Five deliverables addressed designs, specifications, standards, and requirements for the reuse, repurposing, and recycling of EoL batteries. Over 20 KPIs were established, optimizing material recycling and enabling battery passports.
- Deliverables: D2.1 D2.2 D2.3 D2.4 D2.5
Diagnostics and Reverse Logistics:
- Diagnostics processes for EoL batteries were developed to enhance efficiency and accuracy. Comprehensive studies assessed risks in collection and transportation, outlining best practices based on transport modes.
- A streamlined logistics chain was proposed to improve assessment during collection, aiming for a 75% reduction in diagnostics time and 50% fewer decision errors.
- Deliverables: D3.1 D4.1
Reverse Logistics Systems:
- A prototype was developed to improve battery transportation monitoring and safety, with initial testing informing sensor placement and design. Certified through stacking, drop, and fire tests, initial trials reduced risks.
- Guidelines were drafted to standardize collection and transport, focusing on cost reduction and accident elimination.
- Deliverables (in progress): D3.2 D3.3 D3.4
Automated Assessment and Sorting:
- Significant progress was made on tools for fast, precise battery assessments. A diagnostics tool concept was defined, integrating hardware and vision systems for defect detection.
- Methods for safe and efficient battery discharge were advanced, targeting faster cycles and higher energy recovery rates.
- Battery traceability systems were developed, including hardware compatibility and data management frameworks.
- Deliverables (in progress): D4.2 D4.3 D4.4 D4.5
Disassembly and Reassembly:
- Safer, more efficient battery disassembly methods were developed, supported by automation and specialized equipment.
- Key advancements in dismantling, module separation, fire containment, and storage improved sorting performance and cost-efficiency.
- Disassembly solutions now process four battery packs daily, increasing speed and reducing risks.
- Efforts to validate hybrid solar energy storage systems progressed, with groundwork set for future use.
- Deliverables: D5.1 D5.2
- Deliverables (in progress): D5.3 D5.4 D5.5
Circular Economy and Sustainability:
- Mapping the circular battery value chain laid the groundwork for sustainable business models. Progress in lifecycle assessments informed economic, environmental, and social impact analysis.
- A sustainability platform was launched to simulate circular business models, guiding optimal battery repurposing strategies and encouraging sustainable practices.
- Deliverables: D7.1 D7.2 D7.3
The REINFORCE project has made significant progress in its first 18 months, delivering key innovations:
- Use case requirements for 2nd and 3rd life batteries, ideal recycling, battery passports, and disassembly processes were completed (D2.1 D2.2 D2.3 D2.4 D2.5). This knowledge will impact research and industry, benefiting OEMs. Further development and commercialization will unlock economic value in battery reuse, repurposing, and recycling.
- Safety and security risks were identified in collection, reverse logistics (D3.1) battery assessment (D4.1) and dismantling (D5.1) enabling control measures to reduce accidents and improve worker safety. This could greatly reduce incidents involving hazardous batteries.
- New dismantling procedures and automated disassembly systems were developed, including a robotic line to dismantle lithium-ion battery packs through AI-based reconfigurable hardware (D5.1 D5.2). This technology increases disassembly speed by 50%, reduces costs by 60%, improves sorting efficiency by 70%, and minimizes accidents, potentially positioning Europe as a leader in automation and sustainability in the battery sector.
- The circular battery value chain was mapped, laying the foundation for business model design (D7.1). This updated view of the European battery sector, with a focus on circularity, waste reduction, and geostrategic autonomy, will drive innovation.
Significant advances were made in:
- Preliminary diagnostics for battery assessment at collection (T3.2) enabling faster, more precise assessments, cutting diagnostic time by 75% and reducing errors by 50%. Further development will maximize industrial impact.
- Research on traceability systems (T4.4) to improve interoperability and battery traceability. Future research should focus on new indicators for 2nd and 3rd life batteries to aid standardization, improve consumer knowledge, and support circular processes.
- Use case requirements for 2nd and 3rd life batteries, ideal recycling, battery passports, and disassembly processes were completed (D2.1 D2.2 D2.3 D2.4 D2.5). This knowledge will impact research and industry, benefiting OEMs. Further development and commercialization will unlock economic value in battery reuse, repurposing, and recycling.
- Safety and security risks were identified in collection, reverse logistics (D3.1) battery assessment (D4.1) and dismantling (D5.1) enabling control measures to reduce accidents and improve worker safety. This could greatly reduce incidents involving hazardous batteries.
- New dismantling procedures and automated disassembly systems were developed, including a robotic line to dismantle lithium-ion battery packs through AI-based reconfigurable hardware (D5.1 D5.2). This technology increases disassembly speed by 50%, reduces costs by 60%, improves sorting efficiency by 70%, and minimizes accidents, potentially positioning Europe as a leader in automation and sustainability in the battery sector.
- The circular battery value chain was mapped, laying the foundation for business model design (D7.1). This updated view of the European battery sector, with a focus on circularity, waste reduction, and geostrategic autonomy, will drive innovation.
Significant advances were made in:
- Preliminary diagnostics for battery assessment at collection (T3.2) enabling faster, more precise assessments, cutting diagnostic time by 75% and reducing errors by 50%. Further development will maximize industrial impact.
- Research on traceability systems (T4.4) to improve interoperability and battery traceability. Future research should focus on new indicators for 2nd and 3rd life batteries to aid standardization, improve consumer knowledge, and support circular processes.