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Altilium and HELM AG have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a sustainable lithium supply chain in the UK. The partnership aims to reduce the country’s dependence on imported lithium and strengthen the domestic supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) battery materials. By combining Altilium’s battery recycling expertise with LevertonHELM’s advanced lithium production capabilities, the collaboration will support the UK’s transition to a greener economy.
Key Highlights:
- Altilium will supply technical-grade lithium carbonate recovered from end-of-life EV batteries at its recycling facilities in Devon. LevertonHELM will assess this material for potential offtake and tolling agreements.
- The partnership addresses the UK’s dependence on imported lithium, with China currently refining 60-70% of global lithium for EV batteries.
- Altilium’s Plymouth recycling facility processes 300kg of black mass waste per day, using the proprietary EcoCathode™ process to recover lithium and other battery metals.
- EU battery regulations demand increased recycling content by 2031, setting a minimum of 6% lithium from recycled sources in new EV batteries, rising to 12% by 2036.
- Future developments include alternative lithium processing techniques, leveraging both companies’ expertise to enhance efficiency and sustainability.
As demand for EVs accelerates, lithium supply is under increasing pressure. The UK currently relies heavily on the global market, but Altilium and LevertonHELM aim to mitigate this dependency. Their collaboration will prioritize the recovery of lithium from domestic recycling sources, reducing carbon emissions and fostering a circular economy.
Altilium recently opened its ACT2 facility in Plymouth, capable of recovering valuable battery materials for reuse. The company plans to expand further with a Teesside plant that will process scrap from over 150,000 EVs annually, providing enough cathode active materials (CAM) to meet 20% of the UK’s projected needs by 2030.
“This is a great opportunity to support the UK’s efforts to secure such an important mineral for the energy transition,” said Stefan Berner Beltrán, Principal Engineer at Altilium. HELM’s Merve Cruz added that the partnership highlights the importance of recycling existing resources to create a sustainable supply chain for lithium in Europe and the UK.
By pooling their resources, Altilium and HELM are setting a strong example for industrial collaboration to advance clean energy solutions and bolster the UK’s green transition.
For more information, visit Altilium and HELM AG.
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