BATRAW

“BATRAW” is a project funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe programme. The 4-year project is coordinated by the Technological Centre LEITAT. 17 other partners from seven different countries are participating in the project.

“BATRAW” stands for the recycling of end of life battery packs for domestic raw material supply chains and enhanced circular economy. The project also seeks to develop new technological processes for the recovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) contained in electric vehicle batteries.

Fraunhofer IWKS will analyse the output fractions using element analytics (ICP-OES, XRF) and SEM/EDX mappings for the localization of impurities both in the black mass and on the plastic and metal fractions. As task leader, Fraunhofer IWKS will check and evaluate the developed parameters to optimize the mechanical treatment steps.

OBJECTIVES

To deliver battery grade secondary Co, Ni, Mn, Li, C-graphite and benchmark recovered RMs in NMC811, MMC9½½ and LMNO cathodes versus cathodes containing primary RMs. Cost of the battery grade cathode material will be < 30 €/kWh and performance reported in a scientific publication.

To develop and demonstrate a blockchain platform for RM, product, and supply chain tracking within the scope of ongoing EC efforts and legislations on supply chain transparency and Battery Passport.

To build a prototype of second life battery from BATRAW sample and a tool for repair of battery packs and modules.

To feed the EC’s Raw Materials Information System (RMIS) by the IMS; to contribute to policies and standardisation in battery raw materials, processing, recycling, and waste in line with EU initiatives such as the Batteries Directive, Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC), and Circular Economy Action Plan, all met in 2-3 policy briefs and associated dossier.

To develop and deliver eco-design guidelines on pack manufacturing supporting better repair and dismantling of large battery packs.

To fully substantiate an exploitation and business plan that takes a broad EU-wide focus, including Circular Business models, for the successful implementation of BATRAW innovative dismantling and recycling processes.

To develop and deliver guidelines and best practices for safe handling and transport of end-of-life battery waste.

To quantify environmental impacts and benefits of BATRAW results by LCA study and engage stakeholders and EU citizens in the BATRAW results.

ORANO and MTB will develop the cutting process to open battery modules and cells. Together with MTB and Indumetal, Fraunhofer IWKS will participate as experts in sorting solutions giving advice about the best practices to obtain good quality fractions for the subsequent actions, e.g. in Task4.4 “Domestic battery mechanical treatment, sorting, and high-purity BM production” leaded by Fraunhofer IWKS. In this task Indumetal will test different deactivation technologies for lithium batteries coming from WEEE. These batteries will subsequently be shredded in a mechanical treatment step. Fraunhofer IWKS and Indumetal will develop a sorting system to separate the different fractions (plastics, Fe, Al, and Cu) and to produce the BM rich in metal content (Li, Ni, Mn, Co). IWKS will analyse the output fractions using element analytics (ICP-OES, XRF) and SEM/EDX mappings for the localization of impurities both in the black mass and on the plastic and metal fractions. As task leader, IWKS will check and evaluate the developed parameters to optimize the mechanical treatment step. These data will be considered as inputs to design the scale-up system

Fraunhofer IWKS is also involved in the task “Environmental and social assessment”, in particular it contributes to the life cycle inventory (LCI) for repair and reuse of EV batteries.

April 2022 – March 2026

Coordinator: LEITAT Technological Centre

Consortium members: BeePlanet factory, TU Braunschweig, CEA, CEPS, CESVIMAP, COMANAI, FORD OTOSAN, Fraunhofer IWKS, INDUMETAL RECYCLING, isle, LEITAT Technological Centre, MINESPIDER, MTB Manufaturing, orano, posco HOLDINGS, recyclia, Renault Group, TORRECID

Co-funded by the European Union

Horizon Europe, Grant no 101058359

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them