SAFELOOP Project 4th General Assembly Meeting Held in Kayseri, Hosted by ASPİLSAN Enerji Ev Sahipliğinde Kayseri’de Gerçekleştirildi
The 4th General Assembly Meeting of the SAFELOOP Project, conducted under the international EU Horizon programs and aiming to strengthen sustainability and the circular economy approach in battery technologies, was held on February 12–13, 2026, at the facilities of ASPİLSAN Enerji in Kayseri, hosted by the company.
This important gathering, organized with the participation of international project partners, provided the opportunity to evaluate on-site the industrial-scale implementation of innovative technologies developed within the scope of the project. The meeting also aimed to further advance technical collaborations and strategic partnerships.
Three Continents, Eleven Countries, Fifteen Organizations United
The SAFELOOP Project stands out as a strategic international R&D and innovation initiative bringing together fifteen organizations from eleven countries across three continents. The project aims to enhance the safety, performance, and sustainability of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles. At the same time, recycling and a closed-loop supply chain approach have been placed at the center of the battery value chain.
SAFELOOP does not limit the battery life cycle to production and usage stages alone; it also focuses on recovering end-of-life batteries, re-evaluating them as secondary raw materials, and reintegrating these materials into next-generation lithium-ion cell production.
In this context, the effects of recycled materials on performance, safety, and cycle life have been comprehensively analyzed, and their industrial-scale feasibility has been validated.
Recycling Addressed as a Strategic Lever
Within the project, recycling has been addressed not merely as an environmental necessity but as a strategic lever that reduces dependency on critical raw materials, strengthens supply chain security, and enhances cost competitiveness.
Through SAFELOOP outputs, it is aimed to increase battery cycle and operational life by 2030 and to contribute significantly to the green transformation of the transportation sector in alignment with the European Union’s circular economy objectives.
ASPİLSAN Enerji at the Center of Industrial-Scale Production and Validation
Within the scope of the project, the production of cells and battery packs from recycled battery materials will be carried out at the facilities of ASPİLSAN Enerji, Türkiye’s strategic battery manufacturer, using materials recovered from ASPİLSAN cells.
ASPİLSAN Enerji has assumed a critical role in the project as the main industrial stakeholder responsible for validating the performance, safety, cycle life, and industrial-scale applicability of recovered materials in cell production.
General Manager Prof. Dr. Ahmet Turan Özdemir: “We Have Taken a Pioneering Step for a Sustainable Battery Ecosystem
Prof. Dr. Ahmet Turan Özdemir, General Manager of ASPİLSAN Enerji, made the following statement regarding the meeting: “The SAFELOOP Project has been an extremely strategic initiative that strengthens sustainability in battery technologies and brings the circular economy approach to industrial scale. As ASPİLSAN Enerji, we were very pleased to host this important international collaboration.”
Emphasizing the importance of recycling-based production, Özdemir added:
“Kullanım ömrünü tamamlamış bataryaların geri kazanılarak yeniden hücre üretim süreçlerine dahil edilmesi, yalnızca çevresel fayda sağlamadı; aynı zamanda kritik ham maddelerde dışa bağımlılığı azaltarak ülkemizin tedarik zinciri güvenliğini de güçlendirdi.”
Prof. Dr. Özdemir concluded his remarks as follows:
Within the scope of SAFELOOP, the production and validation activities carried out at our facilities in Türkiye
have marked a significant milestone for the development of a sustainable battery ecosystem in Türkiye. We believe that these efforts
will deliver strong outcomes for both our country and Europe’s green transformation goals
