First UK industrial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling facility completes commissioning phase
British battery recycling business Recyclus Group has announced it is fully licenced to process 22,000 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries each year – equivalent to more than 48,000 electric vehicle batteries – at its LiBatt facility in Wolverhampton, the UK’s first industrial-scale lithium-ion battery recycling centre.
LiBatt opened its doors in July and has successfully completed its commissioning phase. Bulk liquid nitrogen tanks have recently been installed to facilitate continuous processing and the facility can now operate at scale. The business is forecasting 8,300 tonnes of batteries will be recovered in year one alone; with plans to scale up to three shifts by 2025, enabling fulfilment of its 22,000-tonne licensed capacity.
The battery recycling facility is compatible with all lithium-ion battery chemistries and can also process lithium metal – believed to be the first industrial-scale plant in Europe with this capability.
Recyclus Group has developed a clean, low energy, low carbon recycling process. Its industry-leading, automated dry shredding process creates a non-volatile environment that supresses fire and explosion. The process extracts the electrolyte and then ferrous metals are separated from non-ferrous using magnetic energy. Further refinement in a secondary shredder ensures the high-quality recovery of black mass consists of significant amounts of lithium, manganese, cobalt, and nickel metals. These materials can then be separated and resold to processing partners for the remanufacturing of lithium-ion batteries.
Robin Brundle, director and co-founder of Recyclus Group, said: “Having successfully completed the commissioning phase, we are now able to commence commercial operations which represents a significant step towards the realisation of our planned processing rate. By using cutting-edge recycling solutions at our facility, we aim to tackle the challenge of spent batteries, playing a pivotal role in the electrification transition and forging a sustainable circular economy in the UK.”
The site is also able to provide storage for up to 100 tonnes of lithium-ion batteries (equivalent to around 200 EV batteries) and offers a full ADR certified nationwide collection service with its business partner, Slicker, to ensure the safe transport and storage of battery waste.
Lightweight, rechargeable battery packs can be found in electronic devices such as phones, laptops and tablets, as well as in electric vehicles and industrial applications such as energy storage. As the UK sees a rapid rise in usage, there is a growing need to recover and repurpose spent lithium-ion batteries in a responsible and sustainable manner. Recyclus offers a clean, safe and simple recycling solution to businesses across these sectors.
