Battery recycling: Minespider creates marketplace for industry stakeholders
Minespider describes itself as a software specialist in supply chain traceability. For Recircle.market, the Berlin-based company provides the digital infrastructure that powers a marketplace platform connecting all stakeholders in the battery recycling value chain. The initiative specifically targets companies involved in battery-electric vehicle battery reuse, repair, refurbishment, and recycling, as well as ‘other services of relevance along the batteries life cycle.’According to Minespider, the platform aims to improve coordination and data exchange between battery owners, recycling companies, operators of second-life systems, OEMs, and service providers such as logistics, testing, diagnostics, and repair companies. To date, this sector has been characterised by fragmented data, a lack of transparency regarding battery quality, and complex transaction processes. In future, interested parties will be able to register on the platform, publish their products and services, and connect directly with potential buyers or partners.The marketplace is currently being developed by Minespider as part of the Recirculate project, which is funded by Horizon Europe. It is designed to cover the following areas:Supply and trading of second-life batteries, supported by verified technical data and lifecycle informationSourcing of recycled battery materials and componentsSupply and demand for specialised services such as testing, diagnostics, logistics, disassembly, refurbishment, and certificationAccess to supporting services such as testing, diagnostics, logistics, and certificationNetwork for battery manufacturers, OEMs, recycling companies, and service providers.The project leaders identify the integration of Digital Battery Passports (DBPs) and Digital Product Passports (DPPs) as a central feature of the marketplace. These are intended to provide transparent access to information on battery origin, chemistry, performance history, and sustainability indicators. “This data-driven approach supports improved market transparency, risk reduction and alignment with regulatory requirements, in line with the EU Battery Regulation as well as the Ecodesign for sustainable products regulation,” Minespider states.“With Recircle.market, we are building the digital backbone for Europe’s circular battery economy – connecting data, materials and market actors in one interoperable ecosystem,” said Volker Krümpel, Co-Founder and General Counsel at Minespider. “This MVP is a first step towards scalable and trusted battery reuse and recycling markets.”In light of the upcoming EU Battery Regulation, which mandates digital battery passports from February 2027, the marketplace leverages key data from these passports.The Recirculate project, from which the marketplace emerges, is a collaboration between industry and scientific partners, funded by the EU and Switzerland. It was launched in 2023 and aims to develop new business models for battery repair, reuse, and recycling. The EU is funding the three-year project with €4.9 million. The goal is to develop more efficient technologies using AI and blockchain. We recently reported on an AI- and robotics-based disassembly system for high-voltage batteries from electric vehicles, which is also being developed as part of the project.In addition to Minespider, other participants in Recirculate include Ford Otosan and DHL. Ford Otosan is providing various batteries for the project and is involved in developing a standardised battery labelling system. DHL is responsible for the safe transport and storage of packs, modules, and cells. Other project partners include Probot, Eco Stor, Fundacio Eurecat, Libattion, Dafo Vehicle Fire Protection, Iconiq Innovation Limited, Iconiq Innovation Spain, and the Swiss organisation CSEM.minespider.com, recirculate.eu, recircle.market
