Status quo & issue
Driven not least by the automotive industry, the number of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries will increase over the coming years. There is currently neither any capacity to recycle this type of battery, nor is there a recycling programme available to handle LFP batteries.
According to the EU Battery Regulation, 50 per cent of the lithium contained in the battery must be recycled by 2027, which is to increase to 80 per cent by 2031. The goal is to use recyclates containing 6 per cent lithium.
Objective & possible solution
The “processing of end-of-life lithium batteries and returning lithium recyclates to the production process of new products” project intends to provide solutions with which LFP batteries can be handled and recycled in an economic and environmentally friendly manner. The result is intended to be a zero-emission lithium recyclate (green mass) that can be fed into the non-European production processes of primary lithium raw materials. The task is to develop and produce a lithium raw material that complies with the requirements of a recyclate in line with the future EU Regulation.
