Battery recycler Ecobat says that it now has three fully operational lithium recycling plants – one in Germany, one in the UK, and another one in the US. The company can thus process 10,000 tons of lithium-ion batteries annually and plant to more than double the capacity.
The company emphasises that these plants were all commissioned in a 12-month timespan. The first plant to go online was the one in Hettstedt, Germany, which was commissioned at the end of 2023. It acquired the plant in 2021 when it took over the lithium-ion recycling operator Promesa. According to Ecobat, the facility is ‘a cornerstone of Ecobat’s vision for a circular battery economy in Europe.’
Second on the list is the US recycling factory in Casa Grande, Arizona. We first reported on the plant in early 2023. At the time, it was said that the location alone could produce an estimated 10,000 tonnes of recycled material per year. According to the current press release, the plant was commissioned in April of last year.
The last plant to go online, namely in November 2024, is the one Darlaston, England. “Serving as a critical hub for Ecobat’s operations across the UK and the wider European market, Darlaston continues its legacy of supporting the circular economy by processing a range of lithium-ion battery types,” the company states. There, Ecobat recycles lithium-ion batteries from old electric Volkswagen cars, for example. It is also working with Nissan in the UK to give old Leaf batteries a second life.
“Ecobat’s rapid expansion in lithium-ion battery recycling demonstrates our commitment to meeting the growing demand for sustainable, closed-loop production processes,” said Brett Horton, Managing Director of Ecobat Solutions. “With EV sales rising and more end-of-life batteries entering the market, our new facilities are well-positioned to meet these challenges, creating value for our partners and stakeholders, while helping to drive the transition to a circular economy.”
