Funded by the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, FREE4LIB aims to enhance the recycling and remanufacturing of Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) through a comprehensive circular ecosystem. One of the pivotal deliverables of this project is the "FREE4LIB Battery Passport Concept", a document that outlines the framework for a digital battery passport designed to improve the sustainability and traceability of LIBs.
The deliverable was authored by the University of Graz, responsible of the Work Package 5 on Impact Assessment and Battery Passport Deployment.
Context and objective of the deliverable
The primary objective of the FREE4LIB Battery Passport is to create a digital platform that stores comprehensive information about LIBs, including their composition, state of health (SoH), and lifecycle data. This information will be accessible to various stakeholders, including manufacturers, recyclers, and regulatory bodies, to facilitate better decision-making and enhance the sustainability of the battery value chain.
The deliverable D5.4 FREE4LIB Battery Passport Concept plays a crucial role in achieving the objective of developing a Battery Passport by providing a comprehensive framework and detailed guidelines for its implementation. The deliverable is structured to describe the research methods used, which include literature review, workshop and interviews with project partners. Based on the findings, the deliverable sets out a list of recommendations for the future development and implementation of the battery passport.
What are the main findings reported in the deliverable?
The deliverable highlights several important findings:
1) Data needs and requirements: The proposed data points for the battery passport include detailed information on the battery's composition, state of health, lifecycle data, and repairment instructions. This information is crucial for ensuring the efficient recycling and reuse of LIBs.
2) Data model: A comprehensive data model was developed to facilitate the flow of information between different stakeholders in the battery value chain. The model includes various data points, such as battery chemistry, dimensions, and manufacturer details.
3) Support for Design for Recycling (DfR): The battery passport can support the design for recycling by providing recyclers with detailed information on the battery's composition and disassembly instructions.
4) Process design optimization: The information provided by the battery passport can help optimize recycling processes and improve the overall efficiency of the battery value chain.
Recommendations and next steps
The deliverable concludes with several recommendations for the future development and implementation of the battery passport. One of the recommendations is linked to standardization, highlighting the need for standardized data formats and protocols to ensure interoperability between different stakeholders and systems. Another recommendation emphasises the need for continued collaboration between project partners and other stakeholders is essential for the successful implementation of the battery passport. This goes hand to hand with the need for additional research to refine the data model and explore new use-cases for the battery passport.
As the FREE4LIB project progresses, several next steps are planned to ensure the successful implementation and adoption of the battery passport:
1) Prototype development: the initial prototype of the battery passport will be developed and tested within the consortium and feedback from consortium members will be used to iteratively improve the prototype. The final Battery Passport will be developed by the end of the project.
2) Stakeholder engagement: engaging with a broader range of stakeholders, including industry partners, regulatory bodies, and end-users, will be crucial to gather diverse perspectives and ensure the battery passport meets the needs of all stakeholders.
3) Social data needs and requirements: Stakeholder engagement is also used to gather different perspectives and priorities for social impacts as required data points in a battery passport (e.g. working conditions, labor rights, health and safety standards, community well-being in regions where batteries are disposed of and produced). This work also investigates whether (and how) a battery passport could support the implementation of a Social Life Cycle Assessment (SLCA). The aim is to develop a holistic picture of data needs that includes social data in addition to environmental data.
4) Regulatory alignment: ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory requirements and standards will be essential to facilitate the widespread adoption of the battery passport. This will involve close collaboration with regulatory bodies and participation in relevant industry forums.
5) Pilot testing of thebattery passport in real-world scenarios will be conducted to validate itsfunctionality and effectiveness. This will involve collaboration with industrypartners to integrate the battery passport into existing processes and systems.The battery passport will be continuously refined and updated based onfeedback from stakeholders and insights gained from pilot testing. Thisiterative approach will ensure the battery passport remains relevant andeffective in supporting the circular economy for LIBs.
You can read the full deliverable here
