Japanese firm Green Science Alliance has launched a battery recycling laboratory at the Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne. The facility focuses on direct recycling of cathode materials from lithium-ion batteries, bypassing the traditional extraction of individual metals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt.
The project involves collaboration with the Swiss Battery Technology Center to process black mass. Initial laboratory tests show that batteries using regenerated cathode material achieved over 90 per cent of the capacity of those made with commercial-grade materials. The technology targets nickel-manganese-cobalt and LFP batteries.
The initiative is currently supported by an Innosuisse Innovation Cheque, providing CHF 15 000 for a six-month feasibility study. This funding covers the costs of the Swiss research partner as the companies explore industrial scalability and aim to meet upcoming EU battery regulation requirements.
The partners intend to use the Biel facility as a gateway to the European market. By reducing the number of processing steps, the company aims to lower costs and decrease reliance on newly mined raw materials, addressing economic challenges in current recycling methods.
