Battery Recycling

Lithium carbonate recovered from used nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries by Aachen-based “cylib” has been qualified as suitable for production of new electric vehicle batteries.

German company Accurec claims it has opened the first recycling plant in Europe capable of recovering lithium from all types of such batteries.

Finnish battery material producer Tracegrow has presented a solution for extracting battery-grade manganese based entirely on recycled raw materials sourced from within the EU.

US-based company Redwood Materials has started recovering various critical raw materials at its Berkeley County site in South Carolina.

With an eye on EU regulations and the planned battery passport, Ascend Elements from the US and GEM from China intend to collaborate on battery recycling in Europe.

Environmental services provider PreZero has acquired German “Re.Lion.Bat. Circular,” which operates Europeʼs largest recycling plant for lithium-ion batteries in Meppen.

Chinese battery material company CNGR has established a recycling joint venture with German specialist “revomet”, a subsidiary of CRONIMET Group.

Glencore Canada Corporation has completed the acquisition of a significant portion of Li-Cycle Holdings Corp.’s assets. The transaction was carried out as part of a credit bid and the assumption of certain liabilities. The purchase agreement was signed in May 2025. According to the company, the purchase includes so-called “spoke” facilities in Arizona, Alabama, New York, Ontario, and Germany. At these locations, used batteries are processed by being dismantled and converted into black mass. The acquisition also includes the hub project in Rochester, New York, which is still under construction. There, the black mass from the various spoke facilities will undergo chemical processing to recover the metals it contains at a high level of purity. In addition to the physical facilities, Glencore acquired Li-Cycle’s intellectual property. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice approved the acquisition, and a US federal court recognized it under Chapter 15 bankruptcy proceedings. This concludes the court-supervised sale and investor process for Li-Cycle. Source:https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/early-warning-press-release-in-respect-of-li-cycle-holdings-corp–843793040.html

US battery recycler Princeton NuEnergy (PNE) has begun operating its lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Chester, South Carolina. The plant produces 5,000 tons of “advanced black mass” from production waste each year. According to the company, its proprietary recycling processes result in a recovery rate of over 97 percent. These processed materials serve as raw materials for new battery cells with NCM and LFP cathode chemistry. PNE plans to expand annual capacity to 15,000 tons by 2026. In the long term, PNE aims to increase capacity up to 50,000 tons depending on market developments. PNE was founded at Princeton University and uses a direct recycling concept based on a patented low-temperature process. The company claims this technology significantly reduces costs and environmental impact compared to conventional methods. PNE receives funding from government grants and investments from companies such as Honda, Samsung, Shell Ventures, and the U.S. Department of Energy. In addition to its location in Chester, PNE operates a pilot plant in Texas and a test center in New Jersey. Source:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-us-battery-circular-economy-advances-with-pnes-south-carolina-flagship-recycling-facility-302522842.html