REBORN is a Horizon Europe funded project that stands for “Reusable battery module and management system development for reliable 2nd life“. The kick-off meeting of the project is taking place today, 6^th of February 2025 at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Ixelles, Belgium).

The project has launched an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming the future of second-life battery applications. By combining cutting-edge technology with innovative design strategies, the project seeks to maximize battery utility, enhance sustainability, and contribute to the circular economy.

The core focus of REBORN is to develop sophisticated, safe, and cost-efficient solutions for second-life battery packs through advanced hardware and software architectures. A key innovation involves optimizing the assembly and disassembly processes using solderless mechanical interconnections and wireless RF communications.

Data analytics will play a crucial role in the project’s objectives. By integrating cloud-based computing and deploying novel physics-based and AI algorithms, the consortium aims to generate unique cell performance indicators aligned with a “battery passport” concept. Furthermore, REBORN will deploy semi-automated robotic dismantling technologies controlled through virtual reality interfaces.  

The initiative will culminate in the development of a reconfigurable battery pack demonstrator evaluated in real-world environments. Additionally, a prospective life cycle assessment (LCA) will quantify the environmental benefits and impacts of adopting second-life batteries using REBORN’s methodologies.

The project has a total budget of ~7.5M€ and will run for 4 years. The consortium is formed by 11 European partners including Vrije Universiteit Brussel (leader), IREC, CEA, Leitat, among others. The role of IREC in this project involves work on model integration, HW development, and balancing work for optimal REBORN battery 2^nd use. This activity is led by Dr. Lluis Trilla, and Dr. Alejandro Clemente from the Power Systems Department at IREC.

By advancing second-life battery solutions, the REBORN project represents a critical step toward creating a more sustainable energy ecosystem and demonstrates the transformative potential of innovation in battery technologies.

Link to cordis: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101138031

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.