The RESTART (REcycling of spent Li-ion batteries and end-life photovoltaic panels: From the development of metal recovery processes to the implementation of a START-up) interdisciplinary project whose main objective is to implement a full value chain for recycling End-of-Life (EoL) lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) and photovoltaic solar panels (PV). This research is facilitated by complementary expertise from top-level research institutions in EU and Africa. The project will tackle key areas of the value chain including collection, disassembling and characterization of EoL LiBs/PVs, sustainable technology development and scale-up of environmentally-friendly metals recovery processes to deal with the future streams of harmful Lithium-ion Battery and Photovoltaic wastes. The shift to a circular economy promoted by RESTART will serve as an example of successful sustainable technology development to the larger scale via collaborative EU-African scientific and economic partnerships.

2022

2025