Project Overview
To improve and strengthen the EU battery cell manufacturing supply chain, BATMACHINE will develop and implement an optimised and energy efficient process chain, taking into account:
- Slurry mixing. An automated modular process will be set up, including monitoring techniques;
- Exclusive novel roll-to-roll slot-die coating and drying machinery. The machines will perform electrode coatings, matching battery cell manufacturer’s specifications with reduced energy consumption;
- Calendaring tool to be integrated into a roll-to-roll battery manufacturing pilot line for process optimisation;
- Intelligent control processes and Industry 4.0 will be intensively integrated through the creation of a collaborative and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data space for battery production. Digital interfaces between battery manufacturing equipment, control systems and engineers will be developed with the aim of creating universal digitalisation tools to improve battery production and create a battery passport;
- The environmental and economic impact of different machinery, production line configurations and factory designs will be studied to reduce the cost and energy consumption of the manufacturing process.
Concept & Methodology
In order to improve the production and supply chain of battery manufacturing, making it more sustainable in terms of energy consumption and resource management, BATMACHINE has developed a strategy that includes the design of a new production line for battery cells, several sustainability assessments, social and economic impacts of the new machinery, and active engagement with stakeholders to promote and encourage the uptake of the BATMACHINE findings and results.
BATMACHINE has subdivided the project in three phases:
- PHASE 1: Upgrading and digitalisation of the battery manufacturing production lines, including slurry mixers, slot-die coating, and drying units, and calendaring tools. During this phase, the developed machines will be tested, both individually and as a complete system. This will allow the production line to be optimised, and to understand the needs of Gigafactories in terms of machinery, energy, cost, sustainability, and digitalisation.
- PHASE 2: A comprehensive and thorough assessment of the environmental, social and economic impacts of the new machinery, production line configuration and factory design will be carried out to identify the best practices to be proposed to the sector. Sustainability will be the main criterion against which the economic, social and environmental benefits and trade-offs of the new machinery and production line will be assessed. A study will also be carried out to improve efficiency of energy and material flows, with the aim of reducing costs and energy consumption of the manufacturing processes.
- PHASE 3: Stimulate and intensify the collaboration between pilot operators, industrial-scale academia, battery cell manufacturers and EU equipment companies to drive innovation in European battery cell production ecosystem in an economically and environmentally sustainable way. BATMACHINE will establish and foster strong links between different stakeholders, such as Gigafactories, battery manufacturers, Research & Development centres, research institutes and universities. BATMACHINE will not only benchmark the state of the art in battery cell manufacturing, but also integrate the inputs derived from these exchanges into the EU battery ecosystem.
BATMACHINE environment
Goals & Expected Results
BATMACHINE project aims to:
Development of new battery cell manufacturing machinery, with a focus on minimising energy consumption during production and increasing of plant efficiency;
Implementation of intelligent control processes and Industry 4.0 to enable site integration and optimisation;
Cost and energy optimisation of the battery manufacturing process, including the integration of low-carbon and low-emission energy sources;
Implementation of environmental standards at the design stage and investigate the environmental and social impacts of different machinery and supply chains to provide best practice suggestions;
Enablement and intensification of deeper collaboration between battery process equipment companies, industrial-scale cell manufacturing, materials, energy and other supply chain sectors that benefit from sector coupling.
Development of new battery cell manufacturing machinery, with a focus on minimising energy consumption during production and increasing of plant efficiency;
