Background The use of high performance, rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries is growing fast in a number of industrial sectors, including mobile phones, laptop computers and electric vehicles. Despite the success of Li-ion technology, major advances in power storage solutions are required to support the transition to an adaptive carbon free economy. The production of Li-ion batteries involves the use of the solvent N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), which has been classified by the European Chemicals Agency as a “substance of very high concern” because of its carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic effects for reproduction properties. The European Union's REACH regulation encourages progressive substitution of NMP in all applications. Objectives The LIFE+ GLEE project aims to eliminate NMP from the rechargeable Li-ion battery manufacturing process. This will be achieved by the demonstration of an alternative technology for Li-ion batteries – using water-based green solvents – which, in addition to not carrying toxic risks, also reduces the manufacturing costs associated with the NMP solvent recovery and re-purification processes. A pilot Li-ion battery materials plant will be built to demonstrate the alternative process for the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles. The aim is to show that these new batteries, with innovative electroless cathode coating technology, will perform better than conventional Li-ion ones: with significantly greater capacity retention under high stress conditions and a longer life. Such advances in rechargeable battery technology are vital for the achievement of a low carbon transport economy, clean chemicals and renewable energy systems. The project will also contribute to the implementation of EU environmental policy by demonstrating the process in production conditions and showing its feasibility, economic sustainability and a positive lifecycle analysis (LCA) assessment. Expected results: By building a chemical plant capable of producing active battery cathode material under industrial conditions, the project expects to generate the following: Tried and tested plant operating design, processes and formulae; Sufficient quantities of the clean chemical material to enable its evaluation by battery-makers and research organisations; A sufficient quantity of new technology batteries (hundreds-thousands) to enable their testing by independent testers, as well as for demonstration to end-user consumers, such as manufacturers of electric cars and/or the Solar Impulse fuel-less aircraft project; and Thorough assessments of the project’s carbon footprint, socio-economic impact, potential for commercialisation and industrialisation, as well as an LCA.