After three years of intensive collaboration and research, the BATCircle 2.0 project has concluded with outstanding success, establishing Finland as one of the leading countries in developing a secure, reliable, and sustainable lithium-ion battery supply chain.
The BATCircle ecosystem is a network of 15 companies and six research institutes. LUT University’s Department of Separation Science, in collaboration with LUT SCI-MAT Research Platform, played a pivotal role in the project. Finland has emerged as a top performer in the global battery market, as reported by BloombergNEF, due to its strong ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) performance and advanced recycling systems. At LUT, the multidisciplinary SCI-MAT research platform remains focused on these crucial ESG issues.
A Collaborative Ecosystem Driving Success
The BATCircle 2.0 project demonstrated the power of collaboration between academia and industry, highlighting the value of communication, knowledge-sharing, and partnership for achieving groundbreaking results. Led by Aalto University, the project generated a substantial body of research, including over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles, more than 25 conference presentations, over 45 theses, and 30 public reports. These outputs have significantly strengthened Finland's capabilities in the battery ecosystem, particularly in materials recycling and refining processes.
Launched in 2019, BATCircle aimed to boost Finland's competitiveness in the global battery value chain. The initiative's first phase (2019-2021) was succeeded by BATCircle 2.0 (2021-2024), which expanded its scope to encompass the entire value chain - from exploration and mining to refining, processing, and recycling of battery materials. The project brought together Finnish companies and research organizations and was further supported by an international advisory board to amplify its impact on both European and global scales.
The success of the BATCircle projects aligns with Finland’s National Battery Strategy 2025, which aims to enhance the country’s competitiveness across the battery sector. BATCircle was a flagship initiative in the "Smart Mobility and Batteries from Finland" program. Business Finland supported BATCircle 2.0 with €10.8 million, contributing to a total project budget of nearly €20 million, underscoring its strategic significance. While the project's official term has ended, its momentum continues to drive progress in the rapidly evolving battery sector, and funding for the third phase of BATCircle is under evaluation.
LUT University: Innovating for Sustainable Electrification
To combat climate change, electrification is crucial. However, producing renewable energy and storing it in batteries require vast amounts of metals. To meet this demand, improved circularity of metals is essential.
Associate Professor Sami Virolainen, head of the Department of Separation Science and the SCI-MAT Research Platform at LUT University, emphasized the importance of BATCircle:
"It’s fundamentally important for us to be a strong part of the BATCircle ecosystem. The project has elevated our research in battery metals separation technologies and processes to a new level. We have achieved significant research outputs and enhanced our infrastructure and knowledge in the field, advancing towards a global leadership position in our specific knowledgeavreas hydrometallurgy. During the BATCircle projects, we have built outstanding networks with Finnish research organizations and companies, and our international collaborations have also expanded. As a result, we are now involved in several EU projects in this field, along with other national research organizations."
During BATCircle 2.0, LUT produced six peer-reviewed journal articles, eight conference articles or presentations, one Ph.D. thesis, two master’s theses, and one bachelor’s thesis, with more outputs in progress. LUT University has established joint publications with notable institutions such as the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (Poland), the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (Barcelona), and the National Metallurgical Laboratory (India). New international projects include the REINFORCE project, focused on processing end-of-life batteries for second and third life applications, and RELiEF project focusing on recovery of lithium from various secondary sources in Europe.
Text: Jaana Ryynänen
For further information, contact:
Sami Virolainen
Email: sami.virolainen@lut.fi
Additional resources:
Website BATCircle
BloombergNEF: Canada Overtakes China in Global Lithium-Ion Battery Ranking (note Finland’s improved ranking)
https://www.bestmag.co.uk/canada-overtakes-china-in-global-lithium-ion-…
LUT SCI-MAT – Sustainable Circularity of Inorganic Materials