CellCircle is Bavaria's best energy start-up

Cheers at the “Energie Start-up Bayern 2024” award ceremony with Hubert Aiwanger (center) - the winner Dr. Andreas Bittner (1st row from bottom, left) with his company CellCircle from Würzburg

Winner of the “Energy Start-up Bavaria 2024” competition with new battery recycling

With first place in the international “Energie Start-up Bayern” competition, CellCircle receives an important award for its innovative process for the particularly resource-efficient recycling of lithium-ion batteries. Bavaria's Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Hubert Aiwanger also praised the company's great commitment to the state's sustainable energy future at the award ceremony in Munich on November 27, 2024.

The jury was particularly impressed by the up to 60% lower CO2 emissions of the innovative CellCircle recycling process compared to previous processes. The process for lithium-ion batteries developed by founder Dr. Andreas Bittner in collaboration with the Fraunhofer ISC also ensures closed material cycles within Europe and uses less energy and chemicals.

The award ceremony at the Start-up Demo Night in Munich with over 800 participants was the highlight of the renowned start-up competition “Energie Start-up Bayern”, which takes place every two years. Initiated jointly by the Bavarian Ministry of Economic Affairs, Bayern Innovativ GmbH, BayStartUp GmbH, Bayernwerk AG, the Bavarian Energy and Water Industry Association (VBEW) and Verbund AG, the aim is to promote ideas, technologies and start-ups for Bavaria's energy future.

“The award now motivates us even more in our discussions with investors and the prompt industrial implementation of our process,” commented Bittner on the award. “We want to build a pilot plant for this in southern Germany. We see the best conditions here and, thanks to the market studies, great potential for a Europe-wide battery recycling industry. This will make our country more economically independent,” summarizes the entrepreneur from Würzburg.

The award underlines the importance of a sustainable battery cycle for a successful energy transition.