Source: European Parliament
The Commission acknowledges the importance of recycling of lithium-ion batteries. It has approved two Important Projects of Common European Interest[1] (IPCEI) on batteries, with one of the workstreams fully dedicated to repurposing, recycling and refining.
These IPCEIs have secured EUR 6.1 billion in funding and will unlock up to EUR 14 billion of additional private investments.
The Commission has also established the co-programmed partnership on battery research and innovation called ‘BATT4EU’ under Horizon Europe[2], which covers the full value chain and, so far, EUR 115 million[3] are going into innovative recycling and circularity projects.
The latest Innovation Fund[4] call launched in December 2024 supports with EUR 1 billion electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing projects. Recycling activities can be integrated into projects eligible under this call.
The Commission is committed to ensuring a skilled workforce for the recycling industry. The Battery Academy[5], established in 2022 by EIT InnoEnergy[6] with the support of the Commission, is providing training for the battery industry, and the planned EU Academies under the Net-Zero Industry Act[7] will provide reskilling and upskilling opportunities.
The Batteries Regulation[8] provides incentives for the development of the recycling industry by introducing targets on recycling, material recovery and recycled content.
Under the Critical Raw Materials Act[9], the Commission will identify as strategic projects those which will enhance the European raw material value chain, including recycling, and contributing to reaching the benchmark of 25% EU recycling capacity.
The Commission with Member States and financial institutions will work on providing additional support measures.
- [1] A two-part IPCEI has been implemented to promote battery production: the IPCEI on Batteries and the IPCEI European Battery Innovation (EuBatIn). https://www.ipcei-batteries.eu/
- [2] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
- [3] This is around 19% of the presently allocated budget.
- [4] https://climate.ec.europa.eu/eu-action/eu-funding-climate-action/innovation-fund_en
- [5] https://www.eba250.com/eba-academy/?cn-reloaded=1
- [6] EIT InnoEnergy is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
- [7] Regulation (EU) 2024/1735 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on establishing a framework of measures for strengthening Europe’s net-zero technology manufacturing ecosystem and amending Regulation (EU) 2018/1724, OJ L, 2024/1735, 28.6.2024, p. 1.
- [8] Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2023 concerning batteries and waste batteries, amending Directive 2008/98/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and repealing Directive 2006/66/EC, OJ L 191, 28.7.2023, p. 1.
- [9] Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020, OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024, p. 1.