Project description
Circularity HUB for aluminium recycling technologies
In terms of global decarbonisation, recycling aluminium is indispensable, using a mere 5 % of energy compared to primary production. However, alloying renders conventional recycling ineffective, leading to downcycling. As aluminium is forecasted to amount to 49 % of overall material circulation by 2050, Europe’s secondary aluminium potential is vital to sustainable production. In this context, the EU-funded RecAL project will address circularity comprehensively, from recycling tolerant alloy design to digitisation as booster for smart recycling technologies, creating valuable high-purity recyclate streams. This initiative will mature 14 technological solutions to TRL6, fostering a socio-technical ecosystem – the Aluminium HUB for Circularity. Connecting stakeholders across the value chain, RecAL will propel Europe towards a sustainable, closed-loop aluminium economy.
Objective
Recycling aluminium from existing End of Life (EoL) and production scraps uses only 5% of energy compared to primary material production, making it mandatory for exploiting its global decarbonisation potential and meeting the demands of the European Green Deal.
However, once aluminium is alloyed with other metals, it is virtually impossible to remove these elements again. Extensive mixing of different EoL alloys therefore inevitably leads to downcycling. This practice has been a successful strategy due to high demand for cast aluminium alloys in combustion engines, a universal recycling “sink” that will dry up in the coming years.
Europe possesses a rich potential of secondary aluminium resources with an expected share of 49% of total aluminium production by 2050. The RecAL project (Recycling technologies for circular ALuminium) provides a balanced approach to fully exploit this valuable resource. It synergistically addresses all stages of circular production and tackles problems of the entire value chain:
- Increase impurity tolerance in alloy design at level or superior performance
- Exploit the benefits of digitization and robotic assistance in sorting and dismantling
- Create recyclate streams with vastly enhanced purities
- Adapt production paradigms to unfold the full potential of secondary resources
- Harmonise communication between all sectors of the aluminium industry
The project will mature an envelope of 14 crucial technological solutions towards these goals up to TRL6 and embed them into a digital, “socio-technical ecosystems”: the Aluminium HUB for circularity. This interactive platform will directly link stakeholders along the value chain for full scale industrial and technological symbiosis and circular economy closing energy, resource and data loops at regional and European scale.
Fields of science
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringwaste managementwaste treatment processesrecycling
- engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringproduct engineering
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata sciencedata processing
- engineering and technologymaterials engineeringmetallurgy
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-RIA - HORIZON Research and Innovation ActionsCoordinator
5282 Ranshofen
Austria
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Participants (18)
1080 Wien
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
7524 PK Enschede
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
61100 Kilkis
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33102 Paderborn
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08755 CASTELLBISBAL
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Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.
08875 Castellbisbal
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57001 Thermi Thessaloniki
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51147 Koln
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80686 Munchen
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1190 Wien
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1120 Wien
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3000 Leuven
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08225 Terrassa
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343 21 ALMHULT
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971 25 Lulea
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
50121 Florence
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41121 Modena
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20018 San Sebastian
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Partners (1)
Partner organisations contribute to the implementation of the action, but do not sign the Grant Agreement.
S40 2UB Chesterfield
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The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.