UK-based clean technology group Altilium is embarking on the next phase of its growth plans as it received a visit from the leader of Plymouth City Council.
Councillor Tudor Evans OBE visited the new EV battery recycling plant in Plymouth which is poised to play a crucial role in the city’s commitment to sustainability, creating new green jobs, and attracting international investment to the region.
The 18,000 square foot facility will use Altilium’s proprietary EcoCathodeTM technology to recycle old lithium-ion batteries from electric vehicles (EVs), helping to reduce waste and recover the critical metals needed to power new EV batteries being built in the UK.
Developing a secure domestic supply chain for materials such as lithium and nickel, and recycling end-of-life EV batteries and Gigafactory waste, aims to reduce a reliance on imported minerals but also results in lower carbon emissions, it said.
Altilium’s new plant will have the capacity to recycle over 200,000 kg of batteries per year, enabling production of high volumes of cathode active materials (CAM), a key component in the manufacturing of EV batteries. These valuable materials will then be used for the production of new EV batteries in the UK and qualification by leading car manufacturers.
With lithium mining taking place in Cornwall and the UK’s largest gigafactory being built in Somerset, the South West is set to play a critical role in the UK’s drive to become a clean energy superpower.
The company is now working with leading car manufacturers, including JLR and Nissan, to develop a circular economy for battery materials in the UK and to demonstrate the successful production and qualification of new batteries using recycled materials.
Councillor Evans said:
“This really hits all the right notes. A company that is expanding and creating jobs in Plymouth, that is at the cutting edge of finding ways to recycle EV batteries and helping to address issues that changing to new greener forms of transport create.
“It is great to see a company that’s really on board with our goals of working towards becoming carbon neutral and doing our bit to tackle climate change.”
Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, said:
“We have committed to cutting our emissions as a city and with cars, vans and HGVs responsible for almost a third of our carbon footprint, travel patterns are an area where we are keen to encourage change.
“A shift to lower emission vehicles such as electric cars is part of that picture and with it comes the challenge of what to do with the batteries. It’s exciting to see this sector develop here in Plymouth.”
Dr Christian Marston said:
“As a Devon-based clean technology group, we’re proud to be part of the South West’s emerging battery ecosystem and committed to investing in the region’s green economy. Our new facility not only represents an investment in advanced recycling technology but also in the local community.”
Image courtesy of Altilium
