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BIG LEAP Strengthens Europe’s Second Life Battery Innovation Through Joint Technical Webinar

27Mar

BIG LEAP Strengthens Europe’s Second Life Battery Innovation Through Joint Technical Webinar

News

On 18 March 2026, BIG LEAP took a leading role in the joint webinar “Building the Future of Second-Life Energy Storage in Europe”, organised together with the Horizon Europe projects BATTERY2LIFE and REBORN. The 90‑minute session brought together experts from across the battery value chain to discuss the tools, data frameworks and design approaches needed to scale second‑life battery solutions across Europe.

Moderated by Prof. M. Sazzad Hosen (VUB), the event attracted strong participation from researchers, industry representatives and policymakers, reflecting the growing momentum behind circular battery strategies and the need for robust technical foundations.

BIG LEAP showcases its algorithmic leadership

A central highlight of the webinar was the contribution of Josu Olmos (Ikerlan), who presented BIG LEAP’s latest advances in State‑of‑X (SoX) and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) algorithms. These developments are essential for accurately assessing the condition and residual value of batteries at the end of their first life, an indispensable step before repurposing them for stationary storage or other applications.

By combining advanced modelling, real‑world data and interoperable architectures, BIG LEAP is helping reduce uncertainty around battery degradation, enabling safer and more reliable second‑life deployment. This work positions the project as a key contributor to Europe’s efforts to build a transparent, data‑driven and circular battery ecosystem.

Complementary insights from BATTERY2LIFE and REBORN

The webinar also featured two technical presentations that complemented BIG LEAP’s algorithmic perspective:

  • BATTERY2LIFE, represented by Giorgos Konstantinidis (ICCS), introduced progress on cloud‑based Battery Management System (BMS) architectures and their integration with the EU Digital Battery Passport, supporting traceability and informed decision‑making for repurposing.
  • REBORN, presented by Andy Roux (CEA), showcased solderless and easily dismantlable module designs, which simplify the preparation of retired EV batteries for second‑life applications and reduce the environmental impact of repurposing processes.

Together, the three projects demonstrated how data, algorithms and design innovations must converge to unlock scalable second‑life solutions.

A shared discussion on barriers and opportunities

The session concluded with an open roundtable, where speakers and participants explored the practical challenges that still limit the widespread adoption of second‑life systems. Key themes included:

  • The need for trusted, standardised data across the value chain
  • Persistent uncertainty around degradation and safety
  • The importance of interoperability between tools, platforms and bms architectures
  • The role of regulatory clarity and viable business models

For BIG LEAP, these discussions reinforced the importance of developing algorithmic tools that reduce technical uncertainty and support decision‑making from assessment to deployment.

Webinar materials and reply of the event available here: https://reborn-project.eu/news-events/three-horizon-europe-projects-unite-to-shape-the-future-of-second-life-battery-storage/

 

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An innovative artificial intelligence-based approach to improve battery energy storage Facilitating grid flexibility through energy storage is crucial for accommodating higher levels of renewable penetration, ushering in a more electrified and decarbonised society through the repurposing of second-life batteries.

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NEXTBAT 

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BATTERY2LIFE is a project, funded by Horizon Europe programme that will facilitate the smooth transition of batteries to 2nd life use and boost the innovation of the European Battery Industry by providing enablers to implement open, adaptable smart Battery Management Systems (BMSes) and improved system designs towards reliable reconfiguration of used batteries. Two demonstrations that represent two promising and sustainable business cases, serving the two most common stationary applications have been carefully selected: The domestic and industrial (grid-scale) storage, with respect to their operational specificities and requirements. The project’s duration extends from January 2024 to December 2026

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RECIRCULATE is an EU funded project that aims to revolutionize the European battery sector by developing the technologies and systems required to enable cascading reuse of batteries and battery components at their end-of-life. RECIRCULATE envisions a future where batteries have an extended lifespan in second and third-life applications, and are only recycled when their maximum value has been extracted, leading to a more sustainable and resource-efficient battery sector.

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Siro was established on September 27, 2021 as a joint venture between Togg and Farasis Energy to develop energy storage solutions for automotive and non-automotive use in Türkiye and surrounding markets. Siro started mass production of battery modules and packs it developed in 2023. Siro, which will start the production of battery cells that it has started to develop as of 2023, will start in 2026 and will become an important energy storage player in the region with its 20 GWh production capacity that it will reach in time. Siro will present its developed energy storage solutions to global markets, and will provide services in the field of energy storage solutions that will support renewable energy, electric grid, charging stations and residential solutions besides automotive, and will be directly responsible for 120 countries in the region besides Türkiye.
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Bern University of Applied Sciences

Anyone who studies at Bern University of Applied Sciences can do so in an interdisciplinary way and in an international context, without setting foot outside the University: within its eight departments, a range of subjects as varied as nursing, food technology and sports are taught. It is also a meeting point for students from many diverse countries. Many-sided yet goal-orientated: anyone who chooses to study at Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH runs no risk at all of focussing solely on their course. With eight departments under one roof, it’s not difficult to see your subject from another angle. The 30 bachelor’s degree courses, 22 master’s courses, and numerous continuing education programmes combine to give BFH a remarkable profile. The University is based in Bern, Burgdorf, Biel/Bienne, Zollikofen and Magglingen.

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RES4AFRICA

Born in 2012, RES4Africa (Renewable Energy Solutions for Africa) is a Foundation that works in support of Africa’s just energy transition in order to achieve the SDG7, ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. It functions as a bridge between Europe and Africa: gathering a network of members from all over the clean energy sector from both continents and high-level international partnerships, we ensure constant dialogue between the most relevant energy stakeholders willing to mobilise investments in clean energy technologies.

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INEGI

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IKERLAN 

IKERLAN is a leading knowledge transfer technological centre providing competitive value to companies. We seek for excellence in R&D&i, thanks to the continuous adaptation to the needs of our customers and the proximity with the business reality. Faithful to our mission, we have been working daily since 1974 to develop solutions that allow our customers to become more and more competitive. We are a cooperative member of the MONDRAGON Corporation and the Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA).
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