Glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (GFRP and CFRP) are increasingly used as structural materials in many manufacturing sectors like transport, constructions and energy due to their better lightweight and corrosion resistance compared to metals. Composite recycling is a challenging task. Although mechanical grinding and pyrolysis reached a quite high TRL, landfilling of EoL composites is still widespread since no significant added value in the re-use and remanufacturing of composites is demonstrated. The FiberEUse project aims at integrating in a holistic approach different innovation actions aimed at enhancing the profitability of composite recycling and reuse in value-added products. The project is based on the realization of three macro use-cases, further detailed in eight demonstrators: Use-case 1: Mechanical recycling of short GFRP and re-use in added-value customized applications, including furniture, sport and creative products. Emerging manufacturing technologies like UV-assisted 3D-printing and metallization by Physical Vapor Deposition will be used. Use-case 2: Thermal recycling of long fibers (glass and carbon) and re-use in high-tech, high-resistance applications. The input product will be EoL wind turbine and aerospace components. The re-use of composites in automotive (aesthetical and structural components) and building will be demonstrated by applying controlled pyrolysis and custom remanufacturing. Use-case 3: Inspection, repair and remanufacturing for EoL CFRP products in high-tech applications. Adaptive design and manufacturing criteria will be implemented to allow for a complete circular economy demonstration in the automotive sector. Through new cloud-based ICT solutions for value-chain integration, scouting of new markets, analysis of legislation barriers, life cycle assessment for different reverse logistic options, FiberEUse will support industry in the transition to a circular economy model for composites.

The objective of HIGREEW (Affordable High-performance Green REdox floW batteries) is to design, develop and validate and an advanced redox flow battery, based on new water-soluble low-cost organic electrolyte compatible with optimized low resistance membrane and fast electrodes kinetics for a high energy density and long-life service. The battery prototype engineering design will be twofold: affordable balance of plant to optimize performance through advanced control strategy to achieve an LCOS of < 0.10€/kWh/cycle at the end of the project and 0.05€/kWh/cycle by 2030 and designed for recycling, to maximize the recycling of the components. The consortium is formed by 9 partners coordinated by CIC Energigune, Spanish research centre, that will be the focus on electrolyte and algorithm development to maximise the batteries life span and minimise its LCOS. The development of advanced materials will be complemented with the University Autonomous of Madrid to improve membranes performance and the French CNRS research centre to optimize the electrode. The 3 key components will be tested and validated at lab scale and cell level with the collaboration of the University of West Bohemia (CZ). The stack engineering will be developed by C-TECH, UK’s SME specialised in electrochemical and electro-heating process equipment, that will work together with Pinflow to optimize active components at laboratory scale and battery stack design. The system design and scale up to manufacture a battery prototype of 5Kw will be done in collaboration between Heights, UK’s engineering, and Gamesa Electric, Spanish large industry leader in renewables. The battery prototype will be tested and validated in the pilot plant of Siemens Gamesa -third party linked to Gamesa- located in Spain. The testing and validation will be the focus on safety-hazards, LCA and LCOS. The exploitation strategy will be led by Uniresearch, who are highly experienced in EU projects. The project will last 40M with a cost of 3,7M€.