Project ReGen Recycling Building a circular future for Lithium-Metal Batteries

At Blue Solutions, we believe a battery’s story shouldn’t end when it stops working. It should come full circle. Today, we’re one major step closer to making that vision real. 

We’ve secured official prefectural authorization to operate a new lithium-metal battery recycling line at our Ergué-Gabéric site in Brittany, France. This green light marks a defining moment for the ReGEN project, our dedicated recycling initiative, with operations set to launch in 2027.

ReGEN is Blue Solutions’ recycling project, designed to close the loop on lithium-metal battery technology.  

The goal is clear: develop, build, and scale an innovative process that recovers lithium metal from used cells and returns it to industrial use. 

Key elements of the project include: 

• An innovative recycling process based on heating and lamination principles, capable of recovering up to 90% of the lithium metal from LMP® battery cells 

• Europe’s first large-scale pilot line, with a recycling capacity of more than 100 MWh of batteries per year 

• A meaningful reduction in waste, diverting more than 40 tonnes of lithium per year away from incineration 

• A lower carbon footprint, by favoring recycled lithium over newly extracted (virgin) lithium 

• A more competitive recycling sector, making battery treatment more profitable and more sustainable 

Together, these objectives support the targets set by the new EU battery regulation and reflect our long-term commitment to a circular battery economy.

Recycling is a core part of how we think about the entire life of a battery, from the first charge to responsible end-of-life recovery. 

The prefectural authorization confirms that our recycling ambitions have a clear, approved path forward. It gives us the foundation to build recycling capabilities that meet high environmental and safety standards, while supporting a wider shift toward a more sustainable battery industry. 

For the energy storage sector, it also sends a broader signal: recycling and high-performance battery technology can grow hand in hand. 

The ReGEN project has already reached several important results on the road to industrialization: 

• A proven extraction process that recovers up to 90% of the lithium metal from spent cells using heat and lamination 

• Successful progression from lab to pilot scale, moving from an R&D prototype to a pilot unit demonstrate TRL7* (Technology Readiness level). 

• High-purity recovered lithium metal, ready for reuse in industrial processes 

• Regulatory authorization secured, clearing the way for operations to begin in 2027 

We’ll continue to share progress and results as the project develops.

Getting this authorization reflects months of careful preparation, open dialogue, and a shared commitment to doing things responsibly. 

The framework we now operate within sets a high standard across several areas: 

• Air and water emissions, with strict controls to protect the surrounding environment 

• Noise management, keeping operations considerate of the local community 

• Risk prevention, embedding safety into every stage of the recycling process 

Meeting these requirements is central to how we plan to grow, and we’re proud to build to that level from the start.

The future of energy storage depends on responsibility: for the materials we use, the emissions we manage, and the communities we operate alongside. 

The batteries we produce today should be recyclable tomorrow. That principle sits at the heart of everything we’re building with ReGEN, and this authorization brings it firmly within reach.

We share updates, milestones, and behind-the-scenes insights on the ReGEN project across our social media channel. To follow the journey and stay informed about the project’s progress, connect with us on: 

• LinkedIn: [Blue Solutions link ] 

We regularly publish posts and communications about the ReGEN project, including project milestones, technical progress, and event participation. You’ll find these updates on our website news section and across LinkedIn listed above.

Project name: ReGEN 

Coordinator: Blue Solutions 

Coordinator contact details:  

Charles DONADIEU de LAVIT, 

charles.donadieudelavit@blue-solutions.fr 

Blue Communications  

globalcommunications@blue-solutions.fr 

Project site: Ergué-Gabéric, Brittany, France

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Innovation Fund, and from ADEME. 

Disclaimer 

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