Batteries: Locations for recycling plants and why they are so important

Contents

Electromobility is experiencing strong growth, which is leading to a massive increase in the consumption of battery raw materials. With the increasing spread of electric vehicles (EVs), a new market is emerging: the recycling of batteries. To use the raw materials efficiently and minimize the environmental impact, the handling of lithium-ion batteries is of central importance for the circular economy.

Europe is currently heavily dependent on imports, as battery raw materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel are mainly sourced from abroad. Local recycling can reduce this dependency by recovering and reusing valuable materials. The choice of location for recycling plants plays a decisive role here, as short transportation routes improve economic efficiency and the environmental balance.

The EU legislation introduced in March 2022 set new targets for battery recycling. Recycling efficiency is to increase from 50% to 65% within 36 months, while the recovery of materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel is to be greatly increased. The recovery of lithium in particular poses a challenge, as many recycling processes have not yet been designed for this. In addition, 90 percent of the recycled materials are to be reused in new batteries.

These requirements clarify that battery recycling must be strategically planned and further developed to achieve the ambitious recycling targets and promote a sustainable circular economy.

Overview of recycling capacities required

One possible solution to make battery recycling efficient and support the market is to create a comprehensive overview of installed and planned recycling capacities in Europe. Such an overview would make it possible to better plan existing and future capacities, identify bottlenecks at an early stage and target investments. This overview could take the form of a digital map. This would provide a visual representation of the locations of recycling plants and their capacities and serve as a tool for political decision-makers, companies and investors to manage the further development of the battery recycling market in a meaningful way and achieve the EU's recycling targets.

How the data must be collected

Detailed data collection is required to create such a map. The methodology consists of collecting data on existing and planned recycling facilities in the EU. This can be done through extensive internet research and direct inquiries to companies by email. The data collected should contain information on the following points: Name of the company, location of the plant, recycling capacity in tons per year (t/a), the type of recycling performed (for example mechanical, hydrometallurgical) and contact details of the companies to stay in close contact about possible capacity changes in the future.

It is important that the published data is based on reliable sources. This means that only information that is either publicly available or provided by the companies themselves is included. The graphical presentation of this data on a map would provide a quick overview of the geographical distribution of recycling capacities in Europe, and thus provide a basis for strategic decisions.

290,000 tons of batteries from electric vehicles expected

In 2023, around 17,000 tons of batteries from electric vehicles were recycled in Europe. This forecast clearly shows that the expansion of recycling capacities will be crucial in the coming years to cope with the growing volumes of used batteries. Germany is currently in a leading position in the field of battery recycling, as the country already has a well-developed recycling infrastructure. However, it will be necessary for other European countries to significantly expand their battery recycling capacities.

Adaptation of recycling companies

Another key issue is the adaptation of recycling companies to new battery designs and cell chemistries. The battery industry is evolving rapidly, and new technologies are being introduced that are often based on different materials or present new challenges for recycling. Recycling companies must be able to quickly adapt their processes to these technological changes to ensure a high recycling rate in the future.

The increasing quantities of end-of-life lithium-ion batteries present Europe with an urgent need for action. The efficiency of recycling must be increased to realize the circular economy concept and minimize the environmental impact of electromobility. Due to its strategic location and growing expertise in the field of battery recycling, Europe has the opportunity to play a pioneering role. A successful circular economy in which battery materials are reused can not only help to conserve resources, but also make production more sustainable.

A key factor for the success of battery recycling is support from manufacturers. They must establish and promote take-back systems for used batteries to ensure that the materials can be collected efficiently and sent for recycling. The recycling facilities themselves must also be expanded and improved to recover not only lithium, nickel and cobalt, but also other important materials such as aluminum and copper. Only through comprehensive recovery of all valuable raw materials can the recycling process be made economically viable.

It is also very important that battery manufacturers adapt the design and materials used in their products so that they can be recycled more easily. This would not only increase recycling rates, but also reduce the costs of the entire process.

Opportunities for a successful circular economy

A successful circular economy in the field of electromobility can also create new economic opportunities. It could create new jobs, reduce the environmental impact of mining new raw materials and promote economic growth. The recycling of batteries is therefore not only a challenge, but also a great opportunity for Europe to position itself as a sustainable industrial location and at the same time make a significant contribution to global climate protection.

Note: Natalia Soldan researches and develops production processes for electric vehicles at RWTH Aachen University, where Melissa Blum is a Research Assistant in the field of circular economy.

(mki)