News

The Chair of Manufacturing and Remanufacturing Technology at the University of Bayreuth, led by BayBatt member Prof. Dr.-Ing. Frank Döpper, 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.

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.

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.

“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.

Read the complete press release by the University of Bayreuth here.