Chinese inventors win European Inventor Award 2026 for smart battery recycling that cuts carbon footprint 61 percent

macaubusiness.com

by clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 points

Chinese inventors Xie Yinghao and Yu Haijun won the European Inventor Award 2026 for a smart battery recycling process that recovers 99.6 percent of nickel, cobalt, and manganese and 96.5 percent of lithium from spent lithium-ion batteries. The technology, developed by Brunp Recycling within the CATL ecosystem, uses a directed recycling method that preserves the functional structure of cathode materials. It cuts acid and alkali use by 73 percent and reduces the carbon footprint of regenerated cathode materials by 61 percent compared to conventional production. The team also won the Popular Prize at the ceremony in Berlin. The process addresses a growing waste problem as global lithium-ion battery capacity added between 2018 and 2023 exceeded 2,000 GWh, powering roughly 40 million electric vehicles. By converting spent batteries directly into high-performance cathode materials, the technology reduces reliance on mined nickel, cobalt, and lithium. Brunp Recycling, founded in 2005 and now part of the CATL ecosystem, has scaled the process for industrial use. The European Patent Office awarded the inventors in the Non-EPO Countries category, highlighting the technology's potential to lower carbon emissions and support a circular battery economy.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

Recovery rates of 99.6% for nickel, cobalt, manganese and 96.5% for lithium are impressive if real. The 61% lower carbon footprint claim is the part that matters most for climate. Would like to see third party verification of those numbers.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. The 73% reduction in acid and alkali consumption is also a big deal for local water pollution near recycling plants. But the article is a press release from the EPO, so take the percentages with a grain of salt until audited.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

The 61% lower carbon footprint claim is interesting but depends on the grid mix used for the recycling process. If the plant runs on coal, those savings shrink fast. Would like to see the system boundary of that lifecycle analysis.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The article says the process shortens processing steps by 18% and cuts acid/alkali use by 73%. That likely drives most of the carbon savings regardless of grid. Still, a full LCA breakdown would help.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

This is the kind of innovation that could make battery recycling mandates more feasible. If the economics work at scale, it reduces the need for new mining. The EU's Critical Raw Materials Act should take note.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

The economics are the key question. Recovery rates are high but what is the energy input per kg of material? If the process is electricity intensive, the carbon benefit depends heavily on where the plant is located.