Research report highlights the importance of cooperation between actors in the battery and automotive industries, collection systems, regulation, and standardisation.
Electric vehicle batteries depend on many critical metals, the recycling of which must be made as efficient as possible in Europe.
A new research report examines the key challenges and new opportunities that either hinder or enable the enhancement of battery recycling in Europe. The study conducted by the Environmental Policy Research Group at the University of Eastern Finland highlights the importance of European battery and automotive industry stakeholders and the need for stronger corporate cooperation, particularly in building recycling facilities.
Overall, the study emphasizes even stronger activation of EU policy and effective implementation of existing regulations, the need for efficient collection systems in all member states, as well as the importance of eco-design, standardization, and battery passports.
According to Professor Rauno Sairinen, who led the project, this concerns both a sustainable material policy for climate solutions and ensuring Europe's self-sufficiency and strategic autonomy: “Existing recycling policies alone are not sufficient to meet the growing demand for critical battery materials. The challenge is the long waiting time for a sufficient volume of batteries to be decommissioned, as well as changes in the battery chemistry. More effective collaboration among many actors is needed to enable recycling and to catch up with China's lead.”
The starting point of the study is the rise of the circular economy in the EU as one of the strategic priorities for securing battery materials, current geopolitical challenges in the sector's markets, the nature of existing EU regulations, the automotive industry's own actions, and technological changes in the sector.
Senior Researcher Kimmo Louekari emphasizes that the EU is lagging behind China in the development of battery recycling and that the sector needs stronger and more direct funding and support mechanisms to reduce dependence on China. “It is also important that the EU effectively implements the so-called black mass export ban, thereby enabling more efficient recycling of battery materials within Europe.”
Battery chemistry is moving towards so-called LFP batteries (lithium iron phosphate batteries), which do not require cobalt and nickel. At the same time, the profitability of recycling decreases. The world of many battery chemistries therefore needs increasingly efficient recycling facilities. In addition, the nature of LFP batteries requires attention in regulation.
Research was supported through the projects entitled “Multi-level governance of critical materials for future electric mobility” (GOVERMAT) funded by Research Council of Finland and by “Pathways out of Energy Crises to a Resilient and Just Energy System” (PHOENIX) by the Strategic Research Council (SRC) established within the Research Council of Finland.
Research report online: Optimizing the EU’s Circular Economy for EV Battery Recycling: Pathways to more effective policies and business models. Authors: Rauno Sairinen, Kimmo Louekari, Olga Kalchenko, Olga Sydd, Juha M. Kotilainen and Sonja Ryhänen from the University of Eastern Finland. Link to research report.
For further information, please contact:
Professor Rauno Sairinen, University of Eastern Finland, [email protected], tel. +358 50 442 3146
Senior Researcher Kimmo Louekari, [email protected], tel. +358 50 587 1954
