Sustainability and CIDETEC Position Gipuzkoa at the Forefront of Europe’s Battery Circular Economy

Naturklima hosts the third edition of the International Zirkular Bat Workshop, a leading event bringing together European experts to address the entire battery lifecycle in electric mobility.

Representatives from BMW, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Cylib, EV Clinic, POEN Europe and Leitat will present the latest innovations in battery repair, remanufacturing, second-life applications and recycling.

José Ignacio Asensio: “The circular economy for batteries represents a strategic opportunity for industrial competitiveness, strategic autonomy and employment in Gipuzkoa.”

The Department of Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Naturklima and CIDETEC Energy Storage have held the third edition of the International Zirkular Bat Workshop at Naturklima, an event that has become firmly established as a leading forum for analysing the challenges and opportunities presented by the circular economy for batteries in Europe.

Entitled “The Battery Lifecycle in Electric Mobility: From Repair to Recycling”, the workshop brought together some of Europe’s leading companies, experts and technology centres working in electric mobility, energy storage and circular battery management.

Transport electrification is advancing rapidly, driven by decarbonisation targets and the expansion of renewable energy. This process is generating growing demand for batteries and, consequently, new challenges relating to access to critical raw materials, end-of-life battery management, and the need to develop more resilient and sustainable value chains.

Against this backdrop, the circular economy has become a key factor in ensuring Europe’s industrial competitiveness, reducing external dependency and strengthening strategic autonomy in an area regarded as essential to the continent’s future economic and technological development.

The Deputy for Sustainability and President of Naturklima, José Ignacio Asensio, opened the event. During his speech, he emphasised that:
“The ecological transition is not only an environmental necessity; it is also a strategy for competitiveness, resilience and economic security. When we speak about battery repair, remanufacturing, second-life applications or recycling, we are talking about industrial innovation, technological sovereignty and Europe’s ability to lead the strategic industries of the future.”

Asensio also stressed that:
“The circular economy is no longer simply an environmental tool; it has become a genuine industrial policy. Gipuzkoa has been committed to this model for years, promoting collaboration between companies, technology centres and public administrations in order to anticipate a transformation that will prove decisive for the competitiveness of our industry.”

Oscar Miguel, Deputy Director of CIDETEC Energy Storage, highlighted that:
“Having speakers of this calibre at the event places Gipuzkoa firmly on the map of the new mobility paradigm. CIDETEC’s 30 years of experience in battery development enables us to transfer valuable tools and knowledge to industry, helping companies address the challenges ahead.”

A Comprehensive Overview of the Battery Lifecycle

The third edition of the workshop focused on one of the sectors that best represents the progress of electrification: electric mobility. Throughout the day, participants explored the different stages of the battery lifecycle, from design and repairability to the recovery of strategic materials through advanced recycling processes.

The programme featured Franz Geyer, Director of Zero Emission Technologies at BMW, who presented the German company’s circularity strategy; Vanja Katić and Otto Behrend, founders of EV Clinic, who discussed the challenges of repairing electric vehicle batteries; and Sanguk Lee and Yohan Kim, representatives of POEN Europe, who shared their experience in battery remanufacturing and lifetime extension.

In addition, Didi Bostock, from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, provided a global overview of developments in the international lithium-ion battery recycling market, while Nils Steinbrecher, from Cylib, analysed the development of circular value chains in Europe from the perspective of industrial recycling. The programme concluded with a presentation by Ángel Manuel Escamilla, Principal Researcher at Leitat, who showcased innovations based on artificial intelligence and automation for the sorting, dismantling and efficient recovery of critical raw materials.

The presentations were followed by a panel discussion moderated by CIDETEC Energy Storage, during which participants examined the key technological, industrial and regulatory challenges that will shape the future of the sector.

Zirkular Bat: Building the Circular Battery Ecosystem

The workshop forms part of the Zirkular Bat initiative, promoted by the Department of Sustainability of the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, Naturklima and CIDETEC Energy Storage to support the development of a specialised ecosystem centred on the circular economy for batteries.

The initiative aims to generate knowledge, foster collaboration between companies and scientific and technological stakeholders, and promote new industrial opportunities related to battery repair, reuse, second-life applications and recycling. Its ultimate goal is to strengthen the European value chain, reduce dependence on critical raw materials and contribute to the development of a more efficient, competitive and sustainable economy.

The organisation of this third workshop further reinforces Gipuzkoa’s position as a region committed to innovation, decarbonisation and the promotion of new economic activities linked to the energy transition and the circular economy.