IDENER: First METALLICO Review Meeting

A Milestone in Sustainable Metal Recovery

 

2 December, 2024

On 17 September, the project's first Review Meeting was held at the facilities of METALLICO partner Fraunhofer IKTS in Freiberg, Germany. For our second newsletter, our coordinator IDENER has written a report on how they experienced the meeting. Enjoy reading!

The First Review Meeting of the METALLICO project was held in Freiberg, Germany, and graciously hosted by Fraunhofer IKTS. This milestone marks a pivotal transition for METALLICO as we move from laboratory-scale validations to the exciting phase of scaling up to pilot-scale operations.

The meeting brought together the entire consortium, along with our Project Officer, Andrej Rožkov, and reviewer, Laurent Cassayre, to review the progress achieved over the first 18 months of the project. Each Work Package leader presented their advancements, covering the technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects of the five case studies.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the demonstration of the COOL+ process at Fraunhofer IKTS facilities. This innovative method for recovering lithium from primary mineral resources was shown in action at a pilot scale. The consortium toured the IKTS laboratories, gaining a deeper appreciation for the advanced equipment and technologies that will play a critical role in achieving our project objectives. Witnessing the operational demonstration was both inspiring and a testament to the tangible progress METALLICO has made toward its ambitious goals.

The discussions during the meeting also emphasized the strategic importance of METALLICO in contributing to the European Union’s agenda for raw materials autonomy and sustainability. As we transition to pilot-scale implementation, our focus will remain on optimizing processes to achieve technical and economic feasibility while upholding environmental sustainability.

Beyond the technical achievements, the event offered valuable opportunities for collaboration and team-building. A guided tour of Freiberg and a networking dinner in the evening allowed us to connect on a personal level, fostering a spirit of partnership that will undoubtedly strengthen our collective efforts moving forward.

This Review Meeting reaffirmed the consortium’s commitment to advancing METALLICO’s mission of creating innovative and sustainable solutions for metal recovery. Looking ahead, we are confident that METALLICO will continue to make strides as we prepare for the next phases of pilot implementation and beyond.