NWO News | Three projects funded for battery development
NWO and the National Growth Fund programme Battery Competence Cluster NL (BCC-NL) are awarding nearly 14.5 million euros to three projects for the call “Technology development for circular batteries”. This enables a major step forward in making batteries more sustainable.
The development of sustainable battery systems is crucial for the energy transition – for electric transport, but also for the storage of green energy from solar and wind. Large-scale battery systems are needed to prevent grid congestion and reduce total CO2 emissions. In addition, sustainable battery technologies and recycling processes must be developed to counteract negative environmental impacts and reduce raw material dependence on other countries.
About the call
This call included three programme lines:
1. Recovery of materials from lithium iron phosphate battery waste streams
2. Development of sustainable sodium-ion batteries
3. Development of bulk batteries for Long Duration Energy Storage and grid stability.
One proposal was submitted for each programme line and these have now been approved. The proposals were all submitted by consortia of several universities and research institutions in collaboration with companies.
Awarded projects
ADAPT-BATT: Adaptive Processing for LFP-mixed Battery Waste Streams - dr. Shoshan Abrahami, TU Delft | Technical manager: dr. Devin Boom, TNO. | Consortium partners: Back to Battery, University of Groningen, Utrecht University. | As the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy systems expands, lithium-ion battery recycling struggles to keep pace. Current methods focus primarily on high-value cobalt- and nickel-rich cathodes, leaving cheaper and safer lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries largely unrecovered. The ADAPT-BATT project addresses this challenge by leveraging LFP chemistry and electrochemical techniques to selectively recover high-purity metals from mixed battery waste. This approach aims to reduce costs, minimizes waste, and keeps valuable materials in circulation, supporting a sustainable, circular battery supply chain in the Netherlands while complying with EU battery regulations.
NANEXBAT – Sustainable materials innovation for next-generation sodium-ion batteries - prof. dr. ir. Mark Huijben, Universiteit Twente | Technical manager: prof. dr. Marnix Wagemaker, Delft University of Technology | Consortium partners: Bor-Lyte, Clean Fuels, DAF, Damen, Eindhoven University of Technology, Euro Support, Hyster-Yale, Nobian, University of Groningen, Utrecht University, VDL. | Sodium-ion batteries hold great promise to offer a viable solution for reducing dependence on critical materials and developing battery technologies with improved circularity. However, current limitations are primarily caused by lack of fundamental understanding. Scientists will explore materials innovations by combination of experimental and computational studies on structure-property relationships of promising Na-ion battery materials and their mutual interactions under working conditions, complemented by accurate analysis of sustainability, material availability, and techno-economics. It will pave the way towards more efficient next-generation battery technologies which are commercially viable, widely accepted by society, and contribute to pathway towards a circular and sustainable society.
REDOX BLEND: REDOX flow Batteries with Large ENergy Density - prof. dr. Edwin Otten, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen | Technical manager: dr. Ir. David A. Vermaas, Delft University of Technology | Consortium partners: AQUABATTERY, DIFFER - Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research, Eindhoven University of Technology, Elestor, Ore Energy, Radboud University, TNO, University of Twente. | As solar and wind power become more important, keeping the electricity grid stable is increasingly challenging. A team of academic researchers, TNO and industry partners is developing new batteries that can store renewable energy reliably and affordably for several days. These innovations will support the energy transition and boost the Dutch battery sector.
About the National Growth Fund programme Material Independence & Circular Batteries
This call for proposals is part of the National Growth Fund programme Material Independence & Circular Batteries. This project is organised by the Battery Competence Cluster - NL (BCC-NL). BCC - NL is the cluster organisation that formulates and implements the Dutch battery strategy and innovation programs to develop and grow the Dutch battery value chain. The public-private partnership enables companies, knowledge institutes and (public) organisations to develop the necessary knowledge and competences in the field of battery technology, bringing the Dutch battery, high-tech, chemical, mobility and energy industry together. In 2023, the proposal for Material Independence & Circular Batteries received a grant of almost 158 million euros from the National Growth Fund.
National Growth Fund programmes
NWO runs thematic programmes for research, knowledge development and innovation funded by the National Growth Fund. The results are used in innovations and organisations, thus contributing to the sustainable earning capacity and broad welfare of the Netherlands. The programmes bring together parties from the entire knowledge chain, both public and private.