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Led by Aalto University, the Finland-based circular ecosystem of battery metals consortium (BATCircle in short) aims at improving the manufacturing processes of mining industry, metals industry and battery chemicals, and to increase the recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Its goal is to strengthen the cooperation between companies and research organizations in Finland, and to find new business opportunities.

Battery material samples in small bottles organized in a row

Joint industry-academia project

4 universities
2 research centers
8 large companies
15 SMEs
2 cities
22 M€ budget

The BATCircle ecosystem consists of key Finnish research and industrial actors involved in the battery metals sector. The ecosystem comprises four universities (Aalto University, University of Oulu, University of Eastern Finland, LUT University), two research centres (GTK, VTT), eight large companies, fifteen SMEs, and two cities (see full list of project members below) with a total budget of 22 M€. The ecosystem has been formed under Business Finland's “Batteries from Finland” programme. The cooperation effort is expected to lead to the formation of a domestic battery metals ecosystem that follows the principles of circular economy.

Key topics

Finland hosts a number of active (>40) mining operations as well as all the major battery minerals in bedrock. Currently, Finland is the largest producer of nickel and cobalt in the EU. This research topic is focused on the characterization of Finnish battery mineral deposits.

This topic focuses on finding ways of screening these domestic mineral resources more efficiently, as well as sustainably sourcing them. The open research is conducted by GTK Geological Survey of Finland and Aalto University.

Finland hosts a number of commercial refining operations utilizing battery metals, such as copper and nickel, with plans on lithium mining and refining underway. Over 10% of the cobalt and 4% the nickel worldwide are currently refined in Finland.

This topic is focused on increasing the recovery of battery metals in current primary metallurgical processes as well as developing new metallurgical processes for new raw materials. Its open research is headed by Aalto University and Geological Survey of Finland.

Lithium-ion battery recycling is an important topic to ensure the circularity of battery metals. The active materials on the cathode of a lithium-ion battery constitute up to 40% of the weight of the battery, while the amount of recycled Li-ion batteries is currently very low at ca 5% globally.

This research topic is focused on developing efficient metallurgical recycling processes for LIBs to ensure high recovery of all elements and to reduce the environmental impacts of recycling. The open research is conducted by Aalto University, LUT University and VTT Research Centre of Finland.

Precursor chemicals are used in the production of cathode active materials which are in turn utilized on the positive electrode of lithium-ion batteries. Precise control and impurity management is necessary to meet the high purity requirements for battery materials and ensure optimal performance of the final battery cell.

This topic looks into the preparation of precursors and synthesis of both anode and cathode active materials as well as their performance. The open research is conducted by Aalto University, University of Oulu, University of Eastern Finland and GTK Geological Survey of Finland.

Strong collaboration and close relationships between key actors from industry, research and public sectors have enabled the formation of a Finnish battery ecosystem.

Participation by a multitude of different actors is necessary to facilitate new sustainable business models and ways of creating value across the circular ecosystem. The open research in this task is conducted by Aalto University.

Go to Publications

Battery metal and material samples on glass dishes organized in a circle

Project members and roles

The open research in BATCircle is conducted by the academic partners, while confidential research is conducted in company-specific R&I projects. The key objective of the BATCircle project is to find ways of adding value to the battery metals sector. This will be achieved by more efficient screening and utilization of the domestic mineral resources, enhancement of the metal refining processes, more efficient recycling of battery metals, improved co-operation between the companies and research organizations as well as through the identification of new business opportunities between partners.

BATCircle also has an Advisory board, which is an extended network of national and international stakeholders interested in the ecosystem activities. The Advisory board is invited to yearly open seminars and receives news from the ecosystem and other activities ongoing in Finland.

BATCircle partners are tightly involved in EU level decision-making and other activities through ETIP Batteries Europe where Aalto University and Metso Outotec are heading the Working group 2, “Raw materials and recycling”. BATCircle members Fortum, Keliber and Terrafame, as well as Advisory Board members BASF and Valmet Automotive, have participated in an Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI). BATCircle members Finnish Minerals Group, Fortum and Metso Outotec are represented in the Batteries European Partnership Association (BEPA).