Sodium-ion Battery recycling project partner Cylib is taking a central role in a major German research effort. The Aachen-based company has joined the SIB:DE Entwicklung consortium, which brings together 25 companies and research institutions. Together, the partners want to advance sodium-ion battery technology and build practical recycling processes for Europe. The project will run for three years. It has secured €14.5 million in funding from the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology, and Space. Moreover, the work spans from March 2026 to February 2029.
The new project expands the broader SIB:DE program. Last year, the initiative launched SIB:DE Forschung, which examined how sodium-ion batteries could support Europe’s energy and mobility transition. Now, the development phase moves closer to industrial use. The consortium aims to develop large-format, market-ready battery cells. At the same time, it wants to ensure that these batteries can move into an efficient circular economy from the start.
Sodium-ion battery recycling project gives Cylib a leading role
Cylib will lead the recycling activities within the consortium. The company will work closely with TU Braunschweig on this part of the program. At Cylib, Till Gerlach, Head of R&D, and Lisa Pillar, Project Manager for SIB:DE, are overseeing the work. As a result, Cylib will help shape how sodium-ion batteries are recovered, processed, and returned to production streams.
This role fits Cylib’s broader focus on battery recycling and circular material use. Instead of treating recycling as an afterthought, the project builds it into battery development from the beginning. Therefore, the partners can align cell design, production, and end-of-life recovery much more effectively.
Sodium-ion battery recycling project focuses on two recycling routes
Within the recycling work package, the consortium is pursuing two routes in parallel. First, the team is developing a conventional process that combines mechanical treatment with hydrometallurgical methods. This route follows established recycling principles and adapts them for sodium-ion batteries. It supports the recovery of valuable materials and creates a clear path for industrial processing.
Second, the partners are developing a direct recycling route. This approach keeps active materials closer to their original form. Instead of fully breaking them down into chemical elements, the process returns them directly to cell production. According to Cylib, this method can lower processing costs. In addition, it can preserve material quality, especially when manufacturers recycle production scrap.
The project team plans a pilot-scale demonstration of this direct recycling route in early 2029. That milestone will show how sodium-ion battery recycling can work at a more practical scale. It will also give industry partners valuable data for future commercial use.
Sodium-ion battery recycling project supports a circular European value chain
Dr Lilian Schwich, Co-CEO of Cylib, stressed the wider importance of the program. She said sodium-ion batteries rely on abundant raw materials. She also noted that recycling makes the technology sustainable and scalable. In her view, the project lays the groundwork for a circular European sodium-ion value chain.
That goal matters because the consortium covers the full battery ecosystem. On the manufacturing side, the partners include VARTA, EAS Batteries, and UniverCell. In electrolyte development, E-Lyte Innovations contributes specialist expertise. Jungheinrich adds intralogistics knowledge. GROB-WERKE and Coperion support machinery development. In addition, acp-systems contributes recycling system know-how, while FUCHS LUBRICANTS supports work in lubricants and analytics.
Sodium-ion battery recycling project connects industry and research
The scientific base of the project is equally strong. Eight Fraunhofer Institutes are part of the consortium. Four major universities also contribute: RWTH Aachen University, the Technical University of Munich, TU Braunschweig, and KIT. ZSW is also involved. EDAG Production Solutions coordinates the overall project. Consequently, the consortium combines industrial scale-up knowledge with deep research expertise.
This structure gives the initiative a strong foundation. On one side, companies can define real manufacturing and recycling needs. On the other side, research institutions can test, validate, and improve the technologies. Because of this balance, the project can move from concept to practical implementation more efficiently.
Why the sodium-ion battery recycling project matters
The project highlights how Europe is preparing for the next generation of battery value chains. Sodium-ion cells attract interest because they use widely available materials. At the same time, recyclability is becoming a key requirement for modern battery systems. By combining cell development with recycling design, the SIB:DE Entwicklung project takes a more complete approach.
For Cylib, the project strengthens its position in advanced battery recycling. For Germany, it supports domestic expertise across battery production, equipment, materials, and recycling. For Europe, it helps build a more circular battery ecosystem with strong industrial and research support. Overall, the consortium’s work could help define how sodium-ion batteries are produced and recycled at scale in the years ahead.
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