Development of innovative recycling processes

In the shift toward electrified vehicles, independence from countries rich in natural resources is a long-term goal, and closing material and substance cycles in the spirit of a circular economy is imperative. Fraunhofer ZESS is therefore developing and testing innovative recycling processes for next-generation energy storage devices and incorporating them at an early stage in material and process development. This will enable the new battery materials to be recovered effectively and efficiently. The focus is on recycling processes that can guarantee the sufficient quality of the recovered materials while offering a high degree of flexibility in response to changing cell concepts and materials. Comprehensive technical, ecological, and economic evaluations of recycling technologies and routes will be used to develop holistic design concepts and recommendations for action for end-of-life recycling and the processing of production waste.