The purpose is to reveal low-carbon hydrometallurgical refining of black mass from lithium-ion batteries within the UK. The expertise platform will get well lithium, nickel and cobalt from end-of-life batteries, serving to the UK automotive business safe an onshore and round provide of the vital supplies wanted for EV manufacturing. With demand rising and an estimated 235 kilotonnes of EV battery waste anticipated within the UK by 2040, the mission addresses a spot in industrial-scale recycling, the place verified recycled supplies are usually not but produced domestically.
Every accomplice within the consortium has a task in guaranteeing a sustainable lifecycle for lithium-ion batteries, from end-of-life provide and processing via to integrating recycled supplies into new batteries. This method goals to shut the loop, improve provide chain resilience and scale back reliance on virgin assets. Jaguar Land Rover contributes automotive software experience, LiBatt Recycling manages battery assortment and processing, Mint Innovation gives the refining course of, and WMG helps integration into new cells.
As talked about above, the consortium can have a funds of 8.1 million kilos. Half of the funding, £4.05 million, comes from the Division for Enterprise and Commerce via the Superior Propulsion Centre (APC), as a part of the £2.5 billion DRIVE35 programme to strengthen the home EV provide chain.
The three-year mission will happen within the West Midlands and run till 2028, aiming to show battery recycling as a strategic pillar of the UK’s electrification roadmap.
“Collectively, we’re in a position to advance zero-emission automotive manufacturing at a quicker tempo, pioneering sustainable lithium-ion battery recycling options to safe onshore provide of inexperienced supplies vital for the UK’s quickly rising EV business,” stated Dr Will Barker, CEO of Mint Innovation.
“This new funding underlines the dedication from authorities to safe superior manufacturing within the UK,” stated Ian Constance, CEO of APC UK. Robin Brundle, Govt Chairman and Co-Founding father of Recyclus Group, added: “This mission marks a serious milestone in advancing the UK’s round battery economic system. Mint’s scalable course of is precisely what the business wants, and we imagine this mission will ship tangible outcomes that transfer us nearer to realising a cradle-to-cradle imaginative and prescient.”
WMG additionally pressured the position of superior supplies analysis. “We’re extremely excited to be working on this consortium to fabricate lithium-ion battery supplies from recycled sources,” stated Dr Beth Johnston, Assistant Professor. “Our processes assist scale back reliance on virgin supplies, tackle provide chain challenges and advance circularity to allow extra widespread electrification.”
