Finland-based Circular Ecosystem of Battery Metals

Finland is among the global leaders in the Li-ion battery value chain, as reflected by Bloomberg’s recent ranking. Expertise in battery materials extraction, synthesis and recycling is critical for competitiveness in the ongoing global electrification efforts. The Finnish National Battery Strategy highlights battery research to support the evolution towards a circular economy and sustainable societies. The new EU Battery Regulation has increased the demand for the recycling of specific battery components.

BATCircle3.0 aims to improve the circulation of valuable battery materials and develop feasible solutions for components that are currently not recycled, thus reducing our dependence on critical raw materials. Our goals go beyond the ambition of the existing Battery Regulation. Through research and technological innovations, we will develop novel, innovative and sustainable ways of adding value to the Finnish battery materials, refining and recycling sector. We strive to develop next-generation battery chemistries and characterization methods as well as understand the recyclability of future battery waste fractions and the effects of impurities in processing. We seek to establish a synergistic approach to processing, recycling, and chemical circulation for economically sound and responsible use of recycled raw materials.

The BATCircle3.0 consortium includes three universities (Aalto, UOulu, LUT), one research centre (VTT), 7 large companies and 9 SMEs. Its Advisory board consists of a wide range of national and international stakeholders. We will especially focus on international collaboration to strengthen our understanding, capabilities, and competitiveness within the circular battery materials value chain. Over the next years, this will intensify our wide-ranging cooperation in national and European battery metals networks.