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Waste GRAPhite RECycling for new lithium and alkaline batteries

Reference: LIFE23-ENV-IT-LIFE-GRAPhiREC/101147368 | Acronym: LIFE23-ENV-IT-LIFE GRAPhiREC

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

BACKGROUND

Batteries are a key technology to drive the green transition, support the shift to electrical mobility and contribute to climate neutrality by 2050. Indeed, graphite was listed by the EU among the 34 strategic Critical Raw Materials and it is crucial as anode material for making every type of battery, either Lithium-based or alkaline. Strategic actions are required to overcome the graphite supply dependence from China and make battery production more sustainable. The LIFE GRAPhiREC project aims to create the first industrial pilot project in Europe on graphite recycling from batteries’ waste and to close the loop to produce new batteries. An innovative process that combines a dry mechanical step and hydrometallurgical refinement will be implemented by two Italian SMEs, ORIM and SIMA, that will install two new pilot plants with a full-scale waste treatment capacity of 1000 t/y. The recycled graphite will be used by Varta Group to manufacture new Lithium-Ion button batteries and electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and alkaline cells for LR6 batteries. The project starts at TRL 5, thanks to previous R&D work and the exploitation of the H2020-FENIX project results. GRAPhiREC will bring about important environmental advantages such as recovery of 630 tons of graphite by the end of the project, very significant waste prevention (around 4,500 tons by the end of the project) as well as substantial GHG, energy and water savings compared to primary production of natural or synthetic graphite. The project sustainability after its end is assured: until 2032 (5 years after project’s end), the upscaling of project results will generate gross revenues for 23.4 Meur and battery production cost savings for about 25Meur. The project will be implemented by 8 European partners, covering the circular economy value chain. The consortium involves two SMEs, two multinational groups, two RTD entities and one sector’s association, being as well supported by some crucial external stakeholders. LIFE GRAPhiREC thus substantially contributes to the implementation of the Batteries Regulation 2023/1542, the Critical Raw Materials Act (COM(2023) 160), the new Circular Economy Action Plan (COM/2020/98 final) and the Zero Pollution Action Plan (COM(2021) 400 final).


ADMINISTRATIVE DATA


Reference: LIFE23-ENV-IT-LIFE-GRAPhiREC/101147368
Acronym: LIFE23-ENV-IT-LIFE GRAPhiREC
Start Date: 01/05/2024
End Date: 31/10/2027
Total Eligible Budget: 7,549,282 €
EU Contribution: 4,529,569 €

CONTACT DETAILS


Coordinating Beneficiary: ORIM S.P.A.
Legal Status: PRIVATE
Address: VIA D.CONCORDIA 65 CAP, 62100, MACERATA,
Contact Person: Enrico FIORI
Email: Send Email


PARTNERSHIPS

Name Status Type
EUROPEAN ADVANCED CARBON AND GRAPHITE MATERIALS ASSOCIATION ACTIVE Participant
VARTA MICROBATTERY GMBH ACTIVE Participant
VARTA CONSUMER BATTERIES GMBH &CO. KGAA ACTIVE Participant
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI CAMERINO ACTIVE Participant
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DELL'AQUILA ACTIVE Participant
ORIM S.P.A. ACTIVE Coordinator
SIMA SRL ACTIVE Participant
TALGA AB ACTIVE Participant