NEWMAT - New Value Creation based on Global Circular Material Streams

Litium-ion-batterier (LIB) er potensielt betydelig verdikjede. Dette prosjektet vil gi norske bedrifter en strategisk forståelse av material resirkulering flyt og fremtidig bruk (inkludert sekundærmarked), slik at de kan ta en ledende posisjon i det europeiske markedet. Norge har en sterk primærmetallindustri, som produserer viktige batteriråvarer som nikkel (Ni), kobolt (Co) og aluminium (Al), samt potensielle viktige elementer som Silisium (Si). I dag blir disse råstoffene hovedsakelig hentet fra jomfrumateriale som er utvunnet globalt. Gitt den forventede veksten i brukte LIB, er det avgjørende at strategier for håndtering av batterier og de benyttede materialene utvikles. Norge har «first-mover» fordel i forhold til LIB-markedet på grunn av den høy andel elektriske kjøretøy, og vil være et av de første områdene, å se store volumer av brukte LIB. Det fremtidige resirkuleringsmarkedet gir vekstmuligheter for nye og eksisterende selskaper.

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The Norwegian process industry is a global leader in the production of primary non-ferrous metals and alloys. Due to a high emphasis on R&D, products based on these materials are specialized for high end applications and used in demanding and well-developed markets such as energy systems and the automotive, aviation and construction industries. After the oil and gas industry, the Norwegian process industry is the second largest exporter in terms of value but i) consumes between 35-40 % of the Norwegian renewable power production and ii) is responsible for approximately 20 % of Norwegian CO2 emissions. To maintain a leading global position, the Norwegian Process industry must adapt their strategy, productions systems and value chains to new dimensions of sustainability. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 12 focuses on responsible consumption and production and increasing global welfare from economic growth, while simultaneously reducing resource use, degradation and pollution along the lifecycle of products and services. On a global scale, the process industry represents an important part of upstream value chains for a wide variety of high-end applications. These suppliers can therefore play a significant role in contributing to reducing CO2 emissions and transitioning towards a circular economy. However, there is a need to develop and adapt necessary tools to enable companies to create new value and make more sustainable business decisions that support increased circularity and reuse of non-ferrous metals and alloys for the Norwegian process industry. The overall goal of the NEWMAT project is to create the basis for new value chain develop through a global analysis framework of material flows that focuses on important materials, and that is relevant for companies that are broadly representatives of the largest Norwegian process industry actors.