Battery specialist in ‘advanced discussions’ with global partners ahead of UK-first launch
Recyclus Group has revealed it is in “advanced discussions” with companies from around the world as it prepares to launch the UK’s first industrial-scale recycling capability for lithium-ion batteries.
It already recycles lead-acid batteries at its site in Tipton and has now reached the final stage of approvals from the Environment Agency to handle lithium-ion batteries.
Recyclus has the ambition of having the capacity to recycle 41,500 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries by 2027.
Technology Minerals, which has a 49% stake in Recyclus Group, is developing a sustainable circular economy for battery metals, using technology to recycle, recover, and re-use battery technologies.
It extracts raw materials required for Li-ion batteries with exploration focused in Ireland, Spain, Cameroon and three projects in the USA, whilst solving the ecological issue of spent Li-ion batteries, by recycling them for re-use by battery manufacturers. With the increasing global demand for battery metals to supply electrification, the group will explore, mine, and recycle metals from spent batteries.
Robin Brundle, chairman of Technology Minerals, said: “Upon receipt of the licence, for the first time, the UK will have an industrial scale recycling capability for lithium-ion batteries.
“Over the past few months, interest in our plant has increased significantly and we are in advanced discussions with companies and organisations from UK and across the globe. We look forward to progressing these once we have received the licence.”
In January it secured a £4m bond facility that will enable the group to ramp up of the first phase of operations at its lead-acid battery recycling plant in Tipton and prepare to commence industrial-scale processing through an automated plant following approval from the Environment Agency.
It has now received a Schedule 5 Notice, which is the final stage before a licence is determined that, if successful, will enable the plant to commence recycling operations.
Brundle added: “We are pleased to have received the Schedule 5 from the EA, as it gives us a clear indication that the process of grant of licence is in its final stages.”
