M-BAT Initiative Advances Sustainable Recovery of Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt and Graphite

As Europe accelerates its transition toward clean energy and electric mobility, securing a reliable supply of critical battery materials has become a strategic priority. Addressing this challenge, a new Horizon Europe-funded initiative, M-BAT (Recovery of Battery-Grade Materials from Primary and Secondary Sources Using Innovative Technologies), has been launched to develop advanced processes for recovering lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and graphite from both conventional and alternative sources.

The project brings together 18 partners from seven countries and aims to demonstrate four innovative recovery technologies at pilot sites in Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom. The initiative will focus on extracting valuable battery materials from mining waste, industrial sludge, end-of-life lithium-ion battery “black mass,” and mineral-rich geothermal brines. The recovered materials will be validated for industrial use through their integration into NMC811 cathodes and battery anodes.

A key technological highlight of the project is the deployment of a direct lithium extraction (DLE) demonstrator by Fraunhofer ISE at a geothermal power plant operated by Cornish Lithium in the UK. The system utilizes an electrochemical ion pump to selectively extract lithium from geothermal brines and convert it into battery-grade lithium carbonate. Unlike conventional extraction methods, the process eliminates several energy-intensive precipitation steps, offering a potentially more efficient and sustainable pathway for lithium production.

By combining battery recycling, resource recovery, and geothermal lithium extraction, M-BAT represents a significant step toward building a circular and resilient European battery value chain. The project is expected to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation recovery technologies while reducing Europe’s dependence on imported critical raw materials essential for the clean energy economy.