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Altilium, a UK-based clean technology company, has started processing lithium-ion battery waste at its new ACT 2 recycling facility in Plymouth. This milestone marks a significant step towards building a circular economy for critical battery materials in the UK.
Key Highlights:
- First facility of its kind in the UK to produce large volumes of precursor cathode active materials (P-CAM) and cathode active materials (CAM) from recycled EV batteries.
- The facility processes 300 kg of black mass waste per day, equivalent to one EV battery, supporting the development of a domestic battery materials supply chain.
- The ACT 2 plant will provide high-nickel NMC811 CAM for validation with a leading automotive OEM, supporting sustainable battery production.
- Supports the UK’s journey towards reducing reliance on imported raw materials and establishing a local supply chain for EV manufacturing.
The ACT 2 recycling facility is part of Altilium’s plan to scale up to megascale recycling at its upcoming ACT 4 plant in Teesside. Using Altilium’s proprietary EcoCathode™ process, the plant is uniquely positioned as the only UK facility capable of producing large quantities of recycled CAM. This milestone contributes to the development of a competitive battery supply chain while reducing the carbon footprint associated with battery production.
The 18,000-square-foot facility can process up to 300 kg of black mass waste per day, enough to produce high volumes of materials for automotive battery qualification. The materials, such as high-nickel NMC811 CAM, will be used at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) and validated with a prominent automotive OEM. This development is essential for reducing the UK’s reliance on imported raw materials and creating a sustainable domestic supply chain for EV battery components.
Dr. Christian Marston, President and COO of Altilium, commented: “This is a proud moment for Altilium and a major milestone for the UK’s circular economy. ACT 2 is not only a demonstration of our technological leadership but also of our commitment to building a sustainable future. With ACT 2 starting processing, we are closer than ever to realizing a domestic supply chain for EV battery materials, a critical component in achieving the UK’s industrial resilience.”
The ACT 2 facility builds on the successful demonstration of Altilium’s technology at its ACT 1 site in Tavistock, which validated the EcoCathode™ process in a scaled-up pilot operation. This technology allows for the recovery of over 95% of cathode metals from waste EV batteries in a format suitable for reuse in battery production. Independent lifecycle analysis shows that cathode materials produced through Altilium’s process could have up to 74% lower climate impact compared to primary materials sourced from China.
Altilium’s process begins with black mass leaching, dissolving battery waste in acid solutions to extract essential metals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. These materials are then separated and purified to produce battery-grade compounds, which are upcycled into high-nickel P-CAM and subsequently synthesized into CAM – the most valuable component of lithium-ion batteries.
Looking forward, the ACT 4 plant will support Altilium’s efforts to meet future demand for cathode active materials. Forecasts from the Advanced Propulsion Centre indicate the UK will need over 150,000 tonnes of CAM per year by 2035 to produce 1.2 million EVs annually. The ACT 4 facility aims to produce 30,000 tonnes of CAM annually, meeting 20% of the projected demand and helping automotive OEMs comply with stringent new EU battery regulations.
About Altilium
Altilium is a UK-based clean technology group focused on reshaping the UK and European automotive supply chain by providing low-carbon domestic sources of cathode and anode materials from recycled waste streams. The company’s EcoCathode™ process converts end-of-life EV batteries into sustainable battery precursors and cathode materials. Altilium’s growth has been bolstered by UK government innovation awards, including grants from the Faraday Institution and the Automotive Transformation Fund. The company recently completed its Series A funding round with a multi-million-pound investment from SQM Lithium Ventures.
For more information, visit www.altilium.tech.
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