Press releases

In Münster, a significant milestone has been reached in the commissioning of the first research factory “FFB PreFab” (1st construction phase): The Fraunhofer Research Production Battery Cell FFB has produced its first electrically functional lithium-ion battery cell. This is the first time that a continuous process chain has been realized using exclusively European plant technology, from electrode production to charged cells.

On the occasion of the status meeting of the project “FoFeBat” (short for “Forschungsfertigung Batteriezelle”), the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB welcomed its project partners as well as representatives of the funding agencies in Münster on November 25 and 26, 2025. The two-day meeting took place for the first time at the main site of Fraunhofer FFB in Münster-Hiltrup. The focus was on the exchange regarding the current status of the FoFeBat project, the progress of the PreFab ramp-up, as well as insights into various research projects and the further development steps on the way to the “FFB Fab”.

In Münster-Amelsbüren, Stadtwerke Münster has begun construction of an agri-photovoltaic system. In the future, it will generate clean solar power for the Fraunhofer Research Facility for Battery Cell Production (FFB) on 13.2 hectares of agricultural land.

The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB and the Chair of Production Engineering of E-Mobility Components (PEM) at RWTH Aachen University invite you to the first “Battery Production Days” (BPD) in Münster on October 21 and 22. The conference and trade fair, which is expected to attract around 250 participants, will alternate between Münster and Aachen in the future.

Minister Neubaur, Minister Brandes, State Secretary Jungk and representatives of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft lay the foundation stone for the second construction phase of the Research Fabrication Battery Cell.

A team led by Prof Simon Lux has analysed the future energy demand associated with the EU's goal of strengthening local battery supply chains in Europe. According to their projections, Europe will have to generate significant amounts of energy for local battery cell production.

In February 2026, the eleven-day university certificate course “Innovationen Batterietechnologie: Batterieproduktion & Nachhaltigkei” will be launched for the first time – a joint continuing education program by FH Münster and the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB.

According to a recent study by Fraunhofer FFB and the University of Münster, sodium-ion batteries are on the verge of industrial mass production. They already offer a viable and sustainable alternative, especially for applications with lower energy density requirements. Expected material optimizations could lead to sodium-ion batteries also being used in electric vehicles in the coming years.

A research team from the University of Münster, the Fraunhofer Research Manufacturing Battery Cell facility, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (USA)has analyzed different strategies for handling end-of-life batteries from electric vehicles, using California as a case study. The findings show that repurposing used batteries as stationary energy storage systems is more effective in reducing greenhouse gas emissions over the long term than immediate recycling. Especially in countries with a high share of renewable energy, second-life battery use, such as for power grid stabilization and improved integration of solar and wind power, holds significant potential.

Lithium is an essential raw material for the production of modern batteries used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and laptops. In the current white paper “Battery Raw Material Lithium,” Fraunhofer FFB examines global lithium deposits and industrial extraction processes, highlights ecological impacts, and identifies potential for sustainable production and recycling strategies.