As global battery demand continues to surge, the number of end-of-life batteries generated by electric vehicles alone is expected to increase from 1.2 million in 2030 to 14 million by 2040. Battery circular economy technologies enable the reuse and recycling of these batteries. Similar to the broader battery technology sector, Asia currently maintains a leading position in this field. Meanwhile, innovation in Europe has also achieved significant growth. As the clean energy transition enters a new stage of development, coupled with recent EU policy initiatives to promote industrial investment and targeted large-scale development, opportunities have emerged for diversifying supply chains, enhancing sustainability, and strengthening technological autonomy and control.

A recent technology insight report jointly released by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) provides a comprehensive analysis of innovation in battery circularity, covering technologies such as the collection and sorting of waste batteries, as well as recycling, regeneration, and second-life applications. Since battery circularity aims to reduce reliance on critical raw materials that require mining and refining, the report also specifically examines the innovation landscape in the field of battery metal extraction.

António Campinos, President of the EPO, stated: "Innovation in battery circularity technology is key to securing resource supply, enhancing competitiveness, and reducing environmental impact. As the importance of this field in the global resource system becomes increasingly prominent, regions with a sound industrial ecosystem, favorable policy frameworks, and access to recycled raw materials will be well-positioned to lead the battery circular economy. Europe brings together many favorable conditions, where a diverse innovation ecosystem and policy initiatives have laid a solid foundation for building a battery circular value chain."

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), noted: "In the age of electrification, batteries have become a core pillar of energy security and industrial competitiveness, but their full value can only be unlocked if countries establish comprehensive circular systems around them. Accelerating innovation in recycling and reuse can alleviate pressure on critical mineral supply chains, reduce environmental impact, and create new economic opportunities. Europe possesses significant development advantages, and this report underscores that targeted innovation and policy support can help Europe move to the forefront of a sustainable battery economy."

Based on 20 years of global patent data, this report highlights emerging trends, leading innovators, and the potential of battery circularity models to reduce Europe’s dependence on imported raw materials. The report analyzes patent activities across 24 technologies, with a research sample covering approximately 16,000 inventions and nearly 4,000 International Patent Families (IPFs). The EPO has simultaneously updated its Clean Energy platform, which now includes a dedicated section on battery circularity. Furthermore, the EPO’s Deep Tech Finder—which integrates patent information with business intelligence to discover emerging European participants across multiple technology sectors—has also been updated to include profiles of more startups and universities active in various stages of the battery recycling industry chain.

Battery Circularity: One of the Most Dynamic Segments of Innovation in Battery Technology

Patent applications related to battery circularity began to grow significantly in 2017, the same year global electric vehicle sales first surpassed 1 million units. Since then, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of International Patent Families in the field of battery circularity has reached 42%, compared to 16% for rechargeable battery manufacturing and only 2% for all technology fields overall.

Patent Applications in Battery Circularity, Rechargeable Battery Production, and All Technology Fields

The innovation boom occurred in tandem with the surge in global battery demand. The battery market size has recently grown more than fivefold, from approximately 180 GWh in 2020 to 1,100 GWh in 2024, and is expected to reach 3,500 GWh by 2030.

Asian Enterprises Lead the Entire Battery Recycling Industry Chain; Europe Achieves Significant Growth

In 2023, Asian enterprises accounted for 63% of the total International Patent Families in battery circularity. Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. (Brunp), the recycling subsidiary of CATL—the world’s largest battery manufacturer—has surpassed established industry leaders such as Toyota, LG, and Sumitomo. European innovators have also maintained significant growth across the entire industry chain, particularly concentrated in the most active areas of patent application: waste battery collection and metal recovery via chemical conversion. Globally, automotive companies typically focus on battery recycling operations, while mining companies specialize in chemical conversion; however, China’s Brunp and South Korea’s LG Group are particularly outstanding, with footprints across all business segments.

Origins of Applicants for Battery Circularity Technology by International Patent Family and Time Interval

China Leads in Both Critical Battery Metal Refining and Battery Circularity

Since 2020, China’s share of International Patent Families in battery metal refining has reached parity with the United States. Meanwhile, China’s domestic patent applications in this field have climbed from approximately 10% of total national and international patent applications in the early 21st century to approximately 70% in the five years leading up to 2023. A similar trend of concentration is evident in the battery circularity field: between 2013 and 2023, China’s share of International Patent Families in this sector rose from 5% to 29%. During the same period, Japanese and South Korean enterprises consistently maintained a substantial share of International Patent Families; Europe’s share slipped slightly from 22% to 21%; and the patent contributions from Australia, Canada, and the United States remained limited.

Scaling Up Innovation Remains Key for Europe to Leverage Its Core Strengths

European patent applicants are particularly active in battery collection and chemical conversion, with key focuses on remote handling technologies (34% of IPFs), isolation and stabilization (30%), and hydrometallurgical extraction following pyrometallurgical pretreatment (26%). This strategic layout reflects Europe’s potential to address the continuously growing volume of waste batteries. Leading European enterprises are also actively developing technologies to convert recycled materials into brand-new battery components, including Umicore, Europe’s largest battery recycler, BASF, and public research institutions such as the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), one of the top patent applicants in France’s energy sector.

If Europe is to reduce recycling costs, improve efficiency, and solve existing challenges such as fragmented sources of waste batteries, non-uniform battery designs, and limited automation, scaling up industry and continuous innovation are essential. Meanwhile, Europe has gradually formed an increasingly comprehensive policy framework. Recent policy initiatives such as the Industrial Accelerator Act, the RESourceEU Action Plan, the Battery Booster Facility, and the 2023 Batteries Regulation aim to enhance industrial capacity, support domestic production, and create an integrated circular industry chain. In this context, Europe’s evolving policy system, combined with its diverse research and industrial base and emerging startups, will lay a solid foundation for industry development if effectively coordinated with targeted industrial investment.

To precisely identify the areas in most need of policy support, the EPO Observatory’s Data Desk can transform patent data into actionable insights for decision-making. The beta version of the platform has launched a detailed map of energy storage technologies, allowing for in-depth analysis of the entire field. Data for the beta version will be fully updated in due course, and subsequent versions will add maps for other key technology sectors.

EPO Technology Platform Upgraded; Deep Tech Finder Tool Simultaneously Updated

The EPO hosts several technology platforms that allow researchers to search Espacenet, the world’s largest and free-to-access single database of patent information. Drawing on the professional expertise of the European Patent Office and national patent examiners, the Clean Energy platform has now added a battery circularity section, launching 24 new searchable technology fields.

Additionally, the EPO’s free tool, Deep Tech Finder, has been updated to include profiles of nearly 60 European startups and university institutions that have filed patent applications in the aforementioned technology fields since 2006. The updated platform optimizes navigation and expands the coverage of startups across all technology sectors.