BATCircle aims at improving the manufacturing processes of battery chemicals and the mining and metals industries and to increase the recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
Success of BATCircle2.0 bolsters Finnish leadership in Li-ion battery supply chain
The Aalto-led collaboration between researchers and industry resulted in impressive research outputs, boosting technological development related to lithium-ion battery metals and materials mining, refining and recycling.
BATCircle2.0 –– a key project in Business Finland’s Smart Mobility and Batteries from Finland program –– came to a successful conclusion in the end of August 2024. Over three years, the project resulted in a substantial level of R&D activities in companies and academia, as well as published research including over 80 peer-reviewed journal papers, more than 25 conference presentations, over 45 theses (doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s) and over 30 public reports.
In 2021, Business Finland granted 10.8 million euros as part of a total funding budget of almost 20 million for BATCircle2.0, a sequel of the original BATCircle (2019-2021). During the last three years, BATCircle2.0 has united the research interests and strengths of 15 companies and six research organizations based in Finland. In addition, the international Advisory Board expanded the impact at European and global level. The research ecosystem was led by Aalto University and the success of this industry-academia project builds strongly on the principles of communication, collaboration and knowledge exchange.
‘Battery materials development, their recycling as well as raw materials mining, refining and processing are all crucial in order to solve challenges related to electrification. Scientific and industrial knowledge gaps need to be filled in order to develop innovative new solutions’, says Sipi Seisko, Project Manager of the BATCircle2.0 project. The co-innovative research of BATCircle2.0 was conducted both as open research –– completed at the research centers and Universities –– as well as in the company specific R&D research projects. The common goal was to create new knowledge and innovations for future business opportunities in the field.
In parallel, international collaboration was strengthened via several applied and granted Horizon Europe projects, e.g. ENiCoN, Helios, and RESPECT. The joint research activities have further strengthened the collaboration between companies and research organizations, thereby supporting the Finnish National Battery Strategy 2025[1] in the work promoting Finland’s competitiveness throughout the battery sector. Finland is among the global leaders in the Li-ion battery value chain, as reflected by Bloomberg’s[2] recent ranking.
Overall, it is important to create a European-wide battery industry which utilizes the enormous business potential of LIBs throughout the whole value chain from mining to recycling. Since Europe is currently highly dependent on the supply of both raw materials and battery cells from overseas, the self-sufficiency of battery sector is one of the major objectives. These targets coincide with the new EU Batteries Regulation[3] (adopted in 2023), which will be introduced gradually from 2025 onwards. ‘Despite the recent slowdown, the future of European battery sector continues looking promising’, says Jyrki Alkio, Chief Specialist at Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland.
‘We have already seen that the Finnish battery metals ecosystem promotes the growth of a European battery value chain following the principles of a circular economy and further strengthens Finland´s position in the lithium-ion battery supply chain’, says Mari Lundström, Principal Investigator of BATCircle2.0 and Associate Professor at Aalto University, School of Chemical Engineering.
The consortium produced extensive research results that can enhance the efficiency of the refining processes and recycling of lithium-ion battery raw materials. Furthermore, the production processes of battery materials were improved, and the properties of new battery active materials developed. Additionally, the project generated outcomes to support exploration of battery mineral deposits in Finland and investigated opportunities for more sustainable exploitation.
From Aalto University, six research groups were heavily involved in the BATCircle2.0 research (i.e., Hydrometallurgy and Corrosion, Mineral Processing and Recycling, Metallurgy, Metallurgical Thermodynamics and Modelling, Electrochemical Energy Conversion, and Engineering Geology).
‘We see the high education and long history in metallurgical production supporting Finland´s competitiveness in battery raw materials, battery materials and recycling’, says Lundström. The BATCircle2.0 research ecosystem participants aims to continue the ambitious research and development work also in the future, while promoting Finland's position as a world leader in the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
BATCircle2.0 consortium partners:
- Aalto University, University of Eastern Finland, LUT University, University of Oulu
- Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
- Boliden Harjavalta Oy, Finnish Minerals Group Oy, Fortum Battery Recycling Oy, Metso Finland Oy, Norilsk Nickel Harjavalta Oy, Terrafame Oy, Umicore Battery Materials Finland Oy, AkkuSer Oy, BroadBit Batteries Oy, Grafintec Oy, FinnCobalt Oy, Keliber Technology Oy, Latitude 66 Cobalt Oy, Mawson Oy, X-Ray Mineral Services Finland Oy
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