The effective management of lithium-ion batteries (LIB) at their end-of-life (EoL) is crucial for sustainability and for reducing the environmental impact of batteries in Germany and Europe. EoL strategies, such as reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling, are essential to conserving resources and minimizing the ecological footprint, supporting the transition to a circular economy.
The cluster “Recycling and Green Battery” (greenBatt) focused on developing sustainable recycling solutions and closing material loops in the battery lifecycle, while the cluster “Battery Utilization” (BattNutzung) concentrated on extending the battery life through optimized use and innovative second-life applications. The accompanying project of both clusters facilitated collaboration and content integration of their activities and the involved projects. Together, they employed an integrated approach to analyze and evaluate various EoL pathways and scenarios, which is based on an open-source tool chain for assessing second-life and recycling options. This enabled the evaluation of environmental and economic benefits, offering targeted recommendations for policymakers and industry on optimal LIB handling at their EoL.
This work discusses the insights and tools collected and developed in both clusters over the past three years offering practical solutions for the second-use & recycling of LIB. The developed solutions and results can guide industry, academia, and policymakers to facilitate informed decision-making for optimal battery EoL strategies.