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Reuse or Recycle? The Decision Defining Europe's Circular Battery EconomyThe conversation around battery recycling has changed significantly over the past few years. What was once considered an environmental responsibility is now becoming a strategic business priority. In 2026, Europe's battery ecosystem is entering a new phase. End-of-life batteries are no longer viewed simply as waste—they are increasingly recognised as valuable sources of critical raw materials, new revenue opportunities, and greater supply chain resilience. As electric vehicle adoption accelerates and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) continue to expand, the decisions made today around battery end-of-life will influence the competitiveness of tomorrow's energy and mobility industries.
European Battery Recycling & Repurposing 2026
📅01 - 02 December 2026| Berlin

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The challenge is no longer whether batteries should be recycled. The real opportunity lies in identifying when battery repurposing, battery recycling, or a combination of both delivers the greatest commercial and environmental value.Second-life batteries are already finding new applications in stationary energy storage, renewable integration, and grid flexibility. Extending battery life can reduce costs, unlock additional revenue streams, and improve asset utilisation. However, recycling remains the preferred pathway when battery degradation, safety considerations, material recovery potential, or fluctuations in lithium, nickel, and cobalt prices make reuse less viable.

At the same time, Europe's approach to critical raw materials is reshaping investment priorities across the battery value chain. Reducing dependence on imported resources has become an industrial priority, accelerating investment in closed-loop manufacturing, urban mining, and the wider circular battery economy. Recovering valuable materials from used batteries is no longer simply a sustainability initiative—it is becoming an essential part of long-term resource security.

Regulation is evolving just as quickly. The European Battery Regulation introduces new requirements around battery traceability, recycled content, producer responsibility, collection, and lifecycle reporting. The forthcoming Battery Passport will further increase transparency by creating a digital record of a battery's lifecycle, helping improve compliance, material tracking, and informed investment decisions. These developments are encouraging organisations to view battery lifecycle management as a strategic capability rather than a regulatory obligation.

Perhaps the biggest shift is one of perspective. Companies are increasingly recognising that battery end-of-life decisions affect far more than waste management. They influence supply chain resilience, operational efficiency, access to critical materials, sustainability targets, and long-term profitability. Organisations that successfully integrate battery recycling, battery repurposing, and battery traceability into their broader business strategy will be better positioned to respond to evolving regulations, changing market conditions, and growing demand for battery materials.
Takeaway
Europe's transition towards a circular battery economy is well underway. The question is no longer whether battery recycling will become strategically important—but how quickly organisations can build the capabilities, partnerships, and decision frameworks needed to capture its full value. Those that act early will be better positioned to strengthen supply chain resilience, secure access to critical raw materials, and unlock new opportunities in an increasingly circular energy economy.

Second-Life EV Batteries Move Into Commercial Energy StorageRetired electric vehicle batteries are moving closer to mainstream commercial energy storage as Rivian, Redwood Materials and Moment Energy tackle technical and regulatory barriers. Recent progress includes a 10 MWh factory installation, a certified battery management system and a repurposing facility for critical infrastructure.Rivian and Redwood Deploy 10 MWh SystemRivian and Redwood Materials are installing more than 100 retired Rivian battery packs at the automaker’s plant in Normal, Illinois. The system will initially provide 10 MWh of dispatchable energy and is described as the first repurposed battery storage installation at a US automotive manufacturer’s own facility.Key features include:•Redwood Energy and Redwood
•Pack Manager integration

•On-site dispatch during high electricity demand

•Lower peak-rate electricity purchases

•Capacity to scale as more packs become available.The project is designed to expand as additional retired Rivian battery packs enter the supply chain.Why Retired Batteries Remain Valuable
EV batteries typically retain more than 80% of their original capacity at the end of vehicle life. Stationary storage uses shallower, more predictable charge-discharge cycles than vehicle propulsion, slowing further degradation.Repurposing still requires testing because packs degrade unevenly. Each unit must be assessed, graded and managed through a battery management system designed for stationary use.Moment Energy Clears a Safety Hurdle
Moment Energy has achieved UL 60730-1 functional safety certification for a battery management system developed specifically for repurposed EV batteries. Built from the ground up, it manages performance and safety while protecting automotive partners’ intellectual property, including Mercedes-Benz Energy.The company says the certification can help overcome insurance and permitting obstacles that have restricted second-life projects in populated areas.
European Battery Recycling & Repurposing 2026
📅01 - 02 December 2026| Berlin

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Megafactory Targets 1 GWh by 2030
Moment Energy has also completed Megafactory 1, described as the world’s largest EV battery repurposing facility. It will convert retired batteries into storage systems for data centers, hospitals, factories and microgrids, with production expected to reach 1 GWh by 2030.Together, these developments show second-life batteries advancing toward scalable energy infrastructure. Wider adoption will depend on certification frameworks, project pipelines and supply chains developing in parallel.

Second-Life EV Batteries Move Into Commercial Energy StorageAs more EV batteries reach the end of their automotive life, the question is no longer simply Can they be reused? but “Can second-life battery storage work commercially at scale?

Retired EV batteries can still retain useful capacity, making them suitable for stationary energy storage, grid flexibility, renewable integration, EV charging and commercial energy management.

But extending battery life alone does not create a successful business model. What Makes Second-Life Batteries Commercially Viable?

A strong second-life model depends on:

• Reliable access to used EV batteries

• Accurate state-of-health testing

• Safe integration and battery management.

• The right stationary storage application

• Clear partnerships across the value chain

The real challenge is creating enough additional value to justify testing, repurposing, operation and eventual recycling.

Matching Batteries with the Right Application

Not every retired battery is suitable for every storage project.

Battery chemistry, remaining capacity, degradation and previous usage all influence where it can perform effectively. Potential applications include renewable energy storage, peak management, grid services, EV charging infrastructure and BESS projects.

The strongest business cases emerge when batteries are matched with applications that make effective use of their remaining performance.European Battery Recycling & Repurposing 2026
📅01 - 02 December 2026| Berlin

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Meet OEMs, battery manufacturers, recyclers, second-life solution providers, utilities, energy-storage companies and technology providers discussing the future of battery repurposing, recycling and circular battery strategies.Industry experts from organisations including Connected Energy, Daimler Truck, Fortum, JLR, AESC, Saft, Hydrovolt, Bosch Rexroth and NHOA Energy are featured in the speaker line-up.Building the Right Second-Life Ecosystem

The second-life value chain involves several players:
EV First Life → Battery Assessment → Repurposing → Energy Storage → Recycling → Material RecoveryOEMs provide battery access and lifecycle data. Repurposers assess and integrate batteries. Energy-storage companies develop viable projects, while recyclers recover valuable materials once the battery reaches its true end of life.This makes collaboration and partnership models critical to scaling second-life storage.Second Life or Recycling?
Repurposing will not be the right choice for every battery.Some batteries will be suitable for another application, while others should move directly to recycling. The real advantage lies in knowing when to reuse, where to deploy, how to generate value and when to recycle.Takeaway
Second-life EV batteries have the potential to become valuable energy-storage assets, but commercial success depends on more than battery availability.It requires the right combination of battery data, safety, technology, suitable applications, strong partnerships and a clear route to recycling.

Battery Recycling Investment: Where Is the Real Business Opportunity in Europe?Europe is rapidly expanding its battery recycling ecosystem, with new investments in recycling plants, black mass processing, material recovery, automation and second-life solutions. But building more recycling capacity does not automatically create a profitable business. The real question is:

Where will the strongest commercial opportunities emerge across Europe’s battery recycling value chain?

Where Is the Investment Opportunity?

Potential opportunities are developing across:• Battery collection and logistics

• Automated dismantling and sorting

• Black mass processing

• Hydrometallurgical and advanced recycling technologies

• Lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite recovery

• Battery Passport and traceability solutions

• Second-life battery assessment and repurposing

• Closed-loop partnerships with OEMs and battery manufacturers
The winners will not necessarily be those with the biggest facilities, but those with the right combination of feedstock, technology, partnerships and downstream demand.
Feedstock Could Be the Deciding Factor

One of the biggest challenges for European recyclers is securing enough batteries and production scrap to keep facilities operating efficiently. As recycling capacity expands faster than available end-of-life EV battery volumes, long-term access to feedstock is becoming increasingly strategic.

This makes partnerships with OEMs, battery manufacturers, collection networks and logistics providers critical to creating sustainable recycling businesses.
Black Mass and Critical Materials
As Europe looks to strengthen its critical raw material security, black mass and recovered battery materials are becoming increasingly strategic.This is creating opportunities for recyclers, refiners, technology providers and investors—but also raising important questions around processing capacity, regulation, logistics and material quality.The Takeaway
Battery recycling represents a major long-term opportunity in Europe, but investment success will depend on more than plant size.

Feedstock security, recovery efficiency, technology selection, battery chemistry, partnerships and access to end markets will determine which business models succeed.

The strongest players will be those that connect OEMs, recyclers, technology providers, raw-material processors and battery manufacturers into commercially sustainable circular value chains.

European Battery Recycling & Repurposing 2026
📅01 - 02 December 2026| Berlin

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Meet senior professionals from OEMs, battery manufacturers, recyclers, second-life specialists, utilities, technology providers, critical-material companies and investors to explore the commercial, regulatory and technological developments shaping Europe’s battery circular economy.Discuss battery recycling economics, investment strategies, black mass, critical-material recovery, second-life applications, automation, traceability and closed-loop supply chains with industry experts.