DOE invests $2M to advance Li-ion battery recycling and remanufacturing technologies

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) announced $2 million for the rejuvenation, recycling, and reuse of Lithium-ion battery programs, administered through the ReCell Center located at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL).

Through this investment, AMMTO will encourage the formation of Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) between the National Laboratories that are part of the ReCell Center and industry partners to perform research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) projects. These CRADA projects will require a 50% cost share between DOE and private partners, although RD&D projects without a CRADA will also be considered.

Up to eight projects will be funded, with an anticipated performance period of one year. These selected projects, which will focus on research, education, and workforce development, will be tasked with de-risking and scaling up novel processes for the recycling and reuse of materials from the more than two million tons of Li-ion batteries projected to be available within the decade.

Targeted project focus areas should include:

• Development of room temperature process for recycling and reuse of electrodes

• Rejuvenation (re-manufacturing) of electrodes for direct reuse

• Recycling of electrolytes

• Education and workforce development

Support will be prioritized for projects in a state or states that have lithium mining or li-ion battery manufacturing operations.

Established by DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office, the ReCell Center is a collaboration of industry, academia and national laboratories working together to advance recycling technologies along the entire battery life-cycle for current and future battery chemistries. The ReCell Center aims to grow a sustainable advanced battery recycling industry by developing economic and environmentally sound recycling processes.