‘XBat+: Advanced Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Critical Raw Materials Recycling in the Circular Economy’ led by UL’s Professor Colin Fitzpatrick, Head of Department and Associate Professor in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, received funding through the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund.
The project, which includes consortium partners Peregrine Technologies, KAON and Helgen Technologies is now due to start shortly and the UL-led research project aims to disrupt the global recycling market by identifying the potential hazards and risks associated with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) recycling sector.
Professor Fitzpatrick explained: “Global demand for batteries is set to increase 14-fold by 2030. However, many of the materials required for batteries are considered to be critical raw materials, meaning that their supply is concentrated from only a small number of countries and is rated as having a substantial supply risk.
“The XBat project will help to position us at the forefront of research in Europe in automation and the circular economy as we seek to recover more critical raw materials from waste electrical and electronic equipment.”