GR4FITE3 project
Graphite resilience for lithium-Ion battery anodes through a sustainable European end-to-end supply chain
| Business | Period | Project Coordinator | Funding Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | May 2023 - April 2027 | RINA Consulting S.p.A. |
Horizon Europe |
Challenge
Batteries serve as an indispensable energy source, playing a pivotal role in the transition towards climate neutrality and a more circular economy. Global demand for batteries is rapidly increasing, projected to rise 14 times by 2030.
Within this context, the GR4FITE project is actively developing sustainable solutions by harnessing Battery-grade graphite, a mineral widely utilized as the anode active material in lithium-ion batteries to:
- Create a sustainable graphite supply chain in Europe for battery anodes.
- Demonstrate the capabilities of Zavalievsky’s Natural graphite mine to be a sustainable supply of battery-ready graphite.
- Develop a process to recover, repair, and reuse synthetic graphite from spent lithium-ion batteries and purify it for anode components. Additionally, to secure a circular economy and supply of graphite in Europe.
- Develop an environmentally friendly method to purify natural graphite to achieve a minimum purity of 99.95% carbon without using hydrofluoric acid (HF).
- Produce spherical carbon-coated graphite for EV lithium-ion battery anodes.
- Create an innovative hybrid composite consisting of natural and recycled graphite, with some addition of nanosized silicon oxide.
- Scale up the preparation of the most promising graphite anodes using customized compositions that enhance the performance of hybrid materials.
- Manufacture lithium-ion battery cells for initial screening and later produce pilot prototypes with capacities of 5-15 Ah.
- Commit to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles and conduct a life cycle analysis to achieve a carbon emissions target of 0.5 kg CO2eq per kg of produced graphite.
Approach
As the project coordinator, RINA is responsible for overall project management, effectively coordinating communication among project partners and stakeholders to ensure the progress of project activities.
Following the completion of this project, our primary objective will be to make informed business decisions regarding future energy storage systems and to provide support to clients in Europe. This activity will encompass tasks such as conducting feasibility and replication studies, scaling up systems for industrial use, and conducting exploitation and market analyses within the strategic domain of sustainable energy storage systems.
Conclusion
The GR4FITE3 project represents a crucial milestone in advancing sustainable energy storage solutions. Through the establishment of a sustainable supply chain, innovation in graphite technology, and a commitment to holistic sustainability practices, it sets the course for a cleaner and more circular future by bringing together the collaborative efforts of 10 partner organizations from six European nations, employing both industry and academia.
