The circular economy in the battery industry
In a world with a diminishing supply of raw materials, MIDAC has set itself the ambitious goal of closing the life cycle of its products by reusing and recycling materials.
Minimum recycled battery quantity in line with the Battery Regulation EU 2023/1542.
Recycling numbers:
Technologies
(LFP and Cobalt)
Used batteries treated in the pilot line in 2025
Used batteries treated in the industrial facility in 2028
2nd Life numbers:
Types of modules (MIDAC and OEM)
Estimated accuracy of health status
2nd Life modules tested
Dismantling
The process starts with dismantling, the controlled disassembly process that safely separates all the different components of a cell.
Separation
The different cell components are physically separated to yield fractions high in distinct materials: metals, plastics, and black mass, ready for the subsequent recovery stages.
Leaching
Next is leaching, a chemical treatment that allows the precious metals to be “extracted” by dissolving them in a liquid solution.
Extraction
Following leaching, the metals are selectively separated and concentrated into distinct solutions using various chemical methods.
Purified salts
The process yields high-purity salts, ready to be reused as new raw materials.
Circular economy
From the purified salts, new cathode materials can be synthesized, closing the loop and maximizing the value of the recovered resources.
Midac among the European leaders of IPCEI batteries
MIDAC is one of the sixty companies in the battery industry in Europe that participates in the IPCEI programme (Important Project of Common European Interest) programme for batteries which aims to implement the entire lithium battery chain in Europe.
With this programme, MIDAC intends to close the value chain of its batteries with a circular economy project that includes the reuse, recycling and production of new batteries starting with recycled materials.
To implement this ambitious programme, MIDAC will invest 130 million euros over seven years to create new production sites aimed at recycling and the production of lithium batteries in Italy.
From used battery to new raw material: the MIDAC project
The MIDAC project covers three of the four work streams in the IPCEI programme: Production of cells (WS2), Production of battery packs (WS3) and recycling and 2nd Life (WS4) for lithium batteries.
The project starts with the collection of used lithium-ion (LiB) batteries. MIDAC disassembles the battery packs to obtain the modules which will be selected through a proprietary protocol to assess their use in second life applications.
The duly selected modules that are suitable for a 2nd Life will be used to produce second life batteries used for stand-by storage. The modules that are not suitable for a 2nd Life will be used, through the construction of a recycling plant, to recover secondary raw materials for new cells, to then produce new first life industrial batteries.
The project
The 2nd Life project is aimed at developing techniques to differentiate and select used LiBs to reuse in secondary, less energy-intensive applications (e.g. stand-by applications) as new ‘second life’ products.
Recycling
Recycling is an important pillar to support the battery value chain in Europe. Together with other partners in the IPCEI project, MIDAC is developing a process that combines mechanical and hydrometallurgical treatments aimed at recovering up to 95% of the battery content, thus anticipating and exceeding the targets of the new Battery Regulation.
MIDAC will implement a pilot line to test the technology before building an industrial facility.
Production
Cell production is the final pillar. As part of the IPCEI, MIDAC aims to demonstrate that recycled materials can be used for the production of new Gen3B cells, achieving improved thermal properties and mechanical strength.
The impact
The impact that MIDAC expects from the implementation of the programme will be significant in creating a value chain of European batteries.
MIDAC will, therefore, develope a robust circular economy around lithium batteries and make significant advances in battery technology, thus positioning itself as an important player in Europe.
Press about our 2nd Life & Recycling projects
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