The University of Waterloo’s Lumet – Illuminating Metal Supply Chains research program has secured $266,664 in new support from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) under its Critical Battery Materials Initiative (CBMI).
The multi-year collaboration, titled “Benchmarking of novel materials and processes for EV lithium-ion batteries using life-cycle assessment,” will expand Lumet’s industry-leading research on transparent, responsible mineral value chains.
Canada’s CBMI funds projects that accelerate discovery of battery materials and link them to more sustainable processing pathways, building a resilient Canadian battery supply chain. A core stream of the initiative focuses on generating life-cycle assessment (LCA) inventory datasets to benchmark the environmental impacts of emerging battery technologies against today’s incumbents—directly aligning with Lumet’s expertise.
“This NRC collaboration lets us apply our LCA expertise to the fast-moving battery sector,” said Professor Steven B. Young, Lumet lead in Waterloo’s School of Environment, Enterprise and Development. “By comparing next-generation cathode chemistries and recycling routes with current production, we’ll give Canadian innovators a clear picture of where the green gains—and hidden trade-offs—really lie.”
The project will:
- build a harmonised life-cycle database for lithium-ion battery materials processed in Canada;
- support benchmarking of new nickel-rich, cobalt-free and recycled feedstock pathways developed in other CBMI projects; and
- publish open-access guidance for industry and LCA analysis.
The award adds to Lumet’s growing funding portfolio, which now tops $1.3 million across federal, international and industry sources.
For more on Lumet’s critical-minerals research, visit lumet.ca or contact sb.young@uwaterloo.ca