HERES – New centre of excellence for the recycling of modern technological materials at the BTU in Senftenberg

By February 2030, a high-performance centre of excellence will be established at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), strategically linking research, industry and structural change – and positioning Brandenburg as a key region in the European circular economy. The HERES joint project is being funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space with a total of around €13.6 million.

Minister for Science Dr Manja Schüle: “A sustainable circular economy instead of linear resource consumption – that is the order of the day, whether we are talking about energy, water, nutrients – or batteries. The HERES centre of excellence at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg will create a research platform that positions Lusatia as a key region for the European circular economy. As a state, we are providing intensive support to Lusatia as part of our structural strengthening efforts on its path to becoming a European innovation region, and in doing so we are placing a targeted focus on science and research. This is what successful structural change ‘Made by future’ looks like.”

Structural change meets future technology

Lithium-ion batteries have become ubiquitous and, by now, indispensable components of our lives in the modern world, ranging from smartphones, laptops, power tools and e-bikes to electric cars and stationary energy storage systems. At the same time, we have a responsibility not only to use the critical and valuable raw materials contained in lithium-ion batteries in a resource-efficient manner, but also to recover them and make them available for reuse. Innovative recycling strategies are the key to the future, enabling us to achieve high recycling rates whilst securing long-term raw material sovereignty.

This is where HERES comes in: during the first funding period, the centre of excellence is developing new technologies across the entire value chain of lithium-ion battery recycling – from the recovery of materials, through their processing and further treatment, to the various options for reuse. The aim is to establish closed material cycles and significantly reduce dependencies on critical raw materials.

Project leader Jörg Acker, Professor of Physical Chemistry at the BTU, emphasises: “In Senftenberg, we are creating an innovative and holistic research infrastructure for the recovery, processing and reuse of a wide variety of battery materials, and will in particular continuously incorporate the latest developments in battery technologies. Our aim is to combine scientific excellence with industrial applicability – and thereby retain value creation, know-how and the next generation of scientists in the region.”

BTU President Prof. Gesine Grande: “With the HERES Competence Centre, we are creating the conditions to develop innovative solutions for the recycling of technologically essential materials whilst simultaneously opening up new value-creation opportunities for our region. HERES exemplifies the BTU’s approach: we bring together scientific expertise, technological innovation and regional transformation. In this way, we are making an important contribution to European raw materials sovereignty, the sustainable use of resources and the future viability of Lusatia.”

Strong consortium – strong region

The project brings together expertise from chemistry, Process Engineering and analytics:

• Prof. Dr Jörg Acker, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, chair of Physical Chemistry
• Prof. Dr. Jens Riedel, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, chair of Spectrochemical Analysis, and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Berlin
• Prof. Dr. Harvey Arellano-Garcia, BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, chair of Process and Plant Engineering

As an associated partner, the “ReLioS – Network for the Regionalisation of the Circular Economy for Lithium-Ion Battery Systems and Future Technologies” brings industry and research into direct dialogue. This makes the centre a key component of the Berlin-Lausitz Innovation Corridor.

Five pioneering fields of innovation

HERES pursues ambitious scientific and technological goals:

• Recovering high-quality battery materials: dismantling of cells, shredding, thermal treatment and separation, post-processing to improve purity and material quality.
• Developing new recycling technologies: Further development of mechanical and hydrometallurgical processes, alternative process approaches, optimised separation methods, including the incorporation of by-product streams.
• Establishing next-generation analytics: Development of fast, precise and automatable analytical methods – including for analytically challenging and process-critical elements.
• Digitalisation & Self-Driving Lab: Introduction of data-driven process monitoring and AI-supported optimisation of hydrometallurgical processes.
• Creating a regional innovation platform: Sustainable scientific infrastructure for companies in the region 

Contribution to EU targets and raw material sovereignty

With HERES, the BTU is responding to the increasing requirements of the European Battery Regulation and the EU Circular Economy Strategy. Higher recycling rates, the recovery of strategic metals and sustainable production chains are key challenges for the future. The competence centre aims to help make Europe less dependent on imports of critical raw materials – whilst simultaneously opening up new industrial prospects for the Lusatia region.

Lausitz– a future hub for high-tech materials

With HERES, a scientific institution is being established in Senftenberg with a reach extending far beyond Brandenburg. The centre combines basic research, industry-oriented development, training and networking – and strengthens the region as a location of the future for high-tech materials.