GoKawiilAs global battery demand continues to surge, the number of end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles alone is expected to grow from 1.2 million in 2030 to 14 million by 2040. Battery circularity technologies enable the reuse and recycling of these batteries and, as with battery technologies more generally, Asia currently leads the way. At the same time, there has been significant growth in European innovations. Combined with recent EU policy initiatives to foster industrial investment and targeted scaling, this offers opportunities to diversify supply chains, achieve greater sustainability and strengthen technological sovereignty, as the clean-energy transition enters a new phase of development.
The latest technology insight report by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) presents a comprehensive analysis of innovation in battery circularity, covering the collection and sorting of used batteries as well as recycling, recovery and repurposing technologies. As battery circularity is intended to reduce dependency on critical materials that must first be mined and refined, a section of the report investigates the innovation landscape surrounding battery metal refining too.
“Innovation in battery circularity technologies is key to securing resources, strengthening competitiveness and reducing environmental impact,” said EPO President António Campinos. “As this field becomes increasingly important in global resource systems, regions that combine strong industrial ecosystems, supportive policy frameworks and access to recycling feedstock will be well positioned to lead the circular battery economy. Europe brings many of these elements together, with a diverse innovation ecosystem and policy initiatives that provide a solid foundation for the development of circular battery value chains.”
“In the age of electricity, batteries have become a cornerstone of energy security and industrial competitiveness, but their full value will only be realised if countries build strong circular systems around them,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “Accelerating innovation in recycling and reuse can ease pressure on critical mineral supply chains, reduce environmental impacts and create new economic opportunities. Europe has important strengths to build on, and this report highlights how targeted innovation and policy support can help position it at the forefront of a sustainable battery economy,”
Drawing on two decades of global patent data, the report highlights emerging trends, leading innovators and the potential of battery circularity to reduce Europe’s reliance on imported raw materials. It examines patenting activity across 24 technologies, based on around 16 000 inventions and nearly 4 000 international patent families (IPFs). The report is accompanied by an update to the EPO’s clean energy platform, which now features a section dedicated to battery circularity. Also, the EPO’s Deep Tech Finder, which blends patent information and business intelligence to reveal emerging European players in multiple technology fields, was updated with further profiles of startups and universities active across the battery recycling value chain.
Battery circularity: one of the most dynamic areas of innovation in the field of battery technologies
Patenting related to battery circularity started to surge in 2017, the same year that global sales of electric cars broke the one million barrier for the first time. Since then, IPFs have grown at a compound annual rate of 42% for battery circularity, compared with 16% for rechargeable battery manufacturing and just 2% across all technology fields.
The surge in innovation coincides with the surge in global demand for batteries. The market has recently expanded more than fivefold, from around 180 GWh in 2020 to 1 100 GWh in 2024, and is expected to reach 3 500 GWh by 2030.
Asian firms lead across the battery recycling value chain, Europe sees significant growth
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