PROJECT REINFORCE

NUTAI is participating in the REINFORCE project alongside companies (Dassault Systèmes, Avesta Battery and Energy Engineering, COMAU, VDL Staalservice, VDL Parts, Siro Silk Road Temiz Enerji, Cobat, and Everledger Ltd.), research centers (Instituto Tecnológico de la Energía, CEA, Tecnalia  e INEGI project coordinator), and universities (Lappeenrannan-Lahden Teknillinen Yliopisto, Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt). The project is conceived to develop and demonstrate a comprehensive set of innovative solutions to streamline the entire value chain of batteries at the end of their life cycle for EV and stationary applications. It aims to meet the requirements of the Battery Directive in anticipation of a significant increase in such batteries in the future, allowing for the second life of batteries in a standardized, efficient, and cost-competitive circular economy.

The project’s pioneering novelty will be demonstrated by validating logistics, processing, and management solutions in a laboratory environment at the expected performance level (TRL6). Through these innovative concepts, REINFORCE seeks to create a broad portfolio of knowledge involving key stakeholders and end-users from various sectors to maximize the project’s impact, ultimately aiming for the future commercialization of project solutions.

The project’s development is based on a structured methodology around four main pillars:

1. Standardized collection and reverse logistics of EoL batteries.
2. Comprehensive assessment and discharge of EoL batteries.
3. Automated, safe, and efficient disassembly.
4. Demonstration.

The project’s goal is to pave the way for the creation of business models focused on establishing a new sustainable circular value chain for the reuse, second (and third) life, and recycling of batteries.

The project ‘REINFORCE – Standardised, Automated, Safe and Cost-Efficient Processing of End-of-Life Batteries for Second and Third Life Reuse and Recycling’ is co-funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe framework program for research and innovation (2021-2027), with project number 101104204 under the topic HORIZON-CL5-2022-D2-01-10, Streamlined collection and reversed logistics, fully automated, safe and cost-efficient sorting, dismantling, and second use before recycling (Batteries Partnership). Four out of the eleven proposed projects were approved.

Funded by the European Union. The opinions and perspectives expressed belong solely to the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the authority providing the funding. None of these entities can be held responsible for them.