University of Bayreuth, Press Release No. 057/2026, 24 July 2026

Digitalisation and automation for more sustainable batteries

A team at the University of Bayreuth has launched the research project “DigiBattCycle – Digitalisation and Automation in Battery Remanufacturing for Circular Value Creation.” The project aims to improve the efficiency of battery reprocessing.

Why it matters

The increasing adoption of electric mobility will result in a growing number of used and, in some cases, defective batteries in the years ahead. This development presents both a challenge and an opportunity, as battery systems contain considerable material and economic value. At present, end-of-life batteries are primarily recycled at the material level, causing a significant portion of this value to be lost, as complex components are not reused but merely broken down into their raw materials. Remanufacturing offers a more sustainable alternative by extending battery life while reducing resource consumption and CO₂ emissions.

However, battery remanufacturing remains highly labour-intensive, only minimally digitalised and difficult to scale. The project therefore investigates how an efficient, digitally supported and safe remanufacturing process chain can be established.

The University of Bayreuth is participating in a new and forward-looking research project focused on the sustainable use of batteries. In the project “DigiBattCycle – Digitalisation and Automation in Battery Remanufacturing for Circular Value Creation”, researchers are examining how used batteries can be remanufactured more efficiently and reintegrated into the circular economy. The project addresses a key challenge of the energy transition: the increasing number of defective battery systems.

Greater Efficiency through Digital Processes

The aim of DigiBattCycle is to develop a scalable, digitally supported and safety-optimised process chain for battery remanufacturing. This approach extends the service life of battery systems and significantly reduces both resource consumption and CO₂ emissions compared to the production of new batteries. At present, battery remanufacturing is characterised by labour-intensive manual work, limited digital connectivity and restricted scalability. The project addresses these challenges by developing innovative solutions for the automation, digitalisation and process optimisation of battery remanufacturing.

University of Bayreuth Takes a Leading Role

The University of Bayreuth plays a leading role within the consortium and coordinates the project. Its key responsibilities include analysing existing remanufacturing processes and identifying opportunities for improved efficiency. Building on these findings, the team will develop a scalable automation concept and establish a laboratory demonstrator equipped with a robotic system. In addition, data interfaces for international connectivity will be implemented.

For international validation, two interconnected demonstrators in Germany and South Korea will be used to assess the transferability of the developed solutions under different framework conditions.

International Collaboration and Funding

The project is funded under the initiative “CircularGlowUp – Global Value Creation: Rethinking and Perspectives for a Circular Future”, which forms part of the “Future of Value Creation” programme of the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), and is managed by Project Management Agency Karlsruhe (PTKA). The total funding volume amounts to approximately €3.83 million, of which around €609,000 has been allocated to the University of Bayreuth. The project runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029.

Contributing to the Circular Economy and Raw Material Sovereignty

“Our project ensures that product and material cycles are closed. This not only reduces waste but also strengthens European raw material sovereignty,” says Gregor Ohnemüller, Senior Research Associate and Research Group Leader for the University of Bayreuth’s Manufacturing and Remanufacturing Technology research group. With DigiBattCycle, the University of Bayreuth is making an important contribution to the development of a sustainable circular economy and to the future of electric mobility.