Europe's BATRAW undertaking: Constructing the future of battery reprocessing in the continent
In an innovative European initiative, the BATRAW project is developing advanced technologies for the sustainable management of electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Coordinated by Spain's BeePlanet, Comonai, and LEITAT organizations, the project aims to create semi-automated battery dismantling technologies and recycling innovations.
The BATRAW project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and brings together 17 partners from across Europe, including research centres, SMEs, industrial stakeholders, recyclers, and sustainability and policy experts.
One of the key components of the BATRAW project is the development of a pilot plant for semi-automated EV battery dismantling at BeePlanet's facilities in Pamplona, Spain. This plant integrates AI-based battery recognition, cobots for safe manipulation, and a robot equipped with a force sensor.
In addition to dismantling technologies, the project is also focusing on hydrometallurgical recycling. A second pilot plant is dedicated to the hydrometallurgical recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs) from end-of-life batteries and is hosted at Orano's site in Bessines-sur-Gartempe, France.
The BATRAW project expects to meet or exceed the targeted recovery rates for CRMs. This is a significant step towards contributing to generating secondary sources of strategically important CRMs and battery raw materials.
The project's solutions are in alignment with the upcoming European Battery Regulation, which aims to ensure sustainability, safety, and traceability throughout the entire battery lifecycle. To further enhance traceability, the BATRAW project is developing a blockchain platform for raw materials, product, and supply chain tracking.
Minespider is leading the development of a digital battery passport with multiple data-sharing layers, incorporating all relevant regulatory data and templates. This digital passport will be adaptable to future legal requirements and will include AI-based tools for creation and understanding.
The BATRAW project has also developed a battery health characterisation tool for rapid and accurate diagnosis of battery modules. This tool will be instrumental in extending the lifespan of batteries and reducing waste.
The project's goal is to develop semi-automated dismantling, mechanical pre-treatment, hydrometallurgical recycling, and a second-life battery prototype, as well as a blockchain-based digital passport for traceability. These advancements will validate the technical and economic viability of the solutions developed within BATRAW, strengthening the foundation for industrial-scale deployment and contributing to Europe's strategic autonomy in raw materials.
This article will appear in the 23rd edition of a quarterly publication. The BATRAW consortium is confident that they will achieve all objectives by the end of the project, with promising results obtained in the development of both pilot lines, particularly in the hydrometallurgical recovery process and the effectiveness of semi-automated dismantling technologies.
ISLE UTILITIES LTD, a participant in Horizon Europe Project BATRAW, is supported by UKRL. This collaboration underscores the global significance of the BATRAW project in driving sustainable and innovative solutions for electric vehicle battery management.
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