The UK’s largest vehicle recycler, EMR, has acquired a significant stake in Australian-owned Renewable Metals as part of a deal that will see a novel demonstration-scale battery shredding and critical minerals refining plant built in the UK.
Renewable Metals have developed a highly differentiated recycling process which has fewer steps than existing recycling routes for lithium-ion batteries.
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This process can deliver higher recovery rates without producing sodium sulfate and is better suited to handling the variability in chemistry of end of life Li-Ion batteries.
The two-stage process takes discharged battery modules, with the shredding and refining steps yielding LME grade nickel and copper, as well as cobalt, lithium and manganese salts, all of which can go directly back into the battery supply chain.
As part of a multi-million deal, EMR will commit end-of-life batteries to the state-of-the-art, large demonstrator plant and it will be built at EMR’s R&D complex in Birmingham, which is already permitted to handle end of life automotive battery packs.
The facility will be able to process automotive, e-mobility (such as e-bikes and e-scooters), industrial, domestic and portable lithium-ion batteries. The new facility is due to be operational in the first half of 2025, subject to permitting approvals.
The technology used at the plant will deliver a lower carbon, more environmentally friendly solution for lithium-ion battery material recovery, significantly reducing the quantity of byproducts and consumption of chemicals used in their processing.
EMR managing director for technology and innovation at Roger Morton said, “We’re delighted to finalise this agreement with Renewable Metals, with whom we have developed a fantastic relationship.
“The team behind Renewable Metals have a world class reputation in this field developed over many years, so we are thrilled to be working together with them on this exciting project.
“EV battery recycling is a challenge we are working extremely hard to deliver and that is exactly what we’re doing here.
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“This investment fits perfectly with EMR’s global strategy to deliver more sustainable materials for the UK and European automotive industry.
“Renewable Metals’ technology is a highly cost-effective and scalable solution which fits into our broader long-term global strategy for this market, where we are actively developing multiple new collaborations. The team at EMR can’t wait to see Renewable Metals ramp up their production over the next year.”
