EMR and Northvolt Collaborate to Establish Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Plant in Germany

25 Aug, 2023

EMR and Northvolt Collaborate to Establish Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Plant in Germany

Northvolt, a Swedish electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, and EMR, a UK-based metal recycler, have collaboratively established and initiated operations at a battery recycling plant in Hamburg, Germany. The facility is geared towards recycling end-of-life EV batteries in the upcoming years, offering essential capacity to bolster battery recycling across Europe.

Central to the recycling process, the new plant will play a pivotal role in disassembling these batteries before forwarding the materials for further processing or reincorporating them into the circular supply chain, according to statements from both companies.

Covering an area of 129,000 square feet, EMR is responsible for equipping and managing the facility, which has the capability to discharge and dismantle around 10,000 tons of EV battery packs annually. This capacity is of significant importance as a multitude of drivers make the transition to electric vehicles. Northvolt was in charge of designing the layout and process flow of the facility, integrating their battery discharging and dismantling solutions.

The initial step in the battery recycling journey is the discharging and dismantling of battery packs. Drawing from over 70 years of experience in metal recycling, EMR ensures the preservation of high-quality copper and aluminum, crucial materials in the construction of contemporary EV battery frames. The intention is to rejuvenate these materials for the production of sustainable technologies, including the next generation of electric vehicles.

Following this initial phase, the remaining battery modules retrieved from the packs will be transported to Northvolt's facilities for further recycling. These modules will be crushed to facilitate the recovery of plastics, aluminum, and copper. The residual substance, known as black mass, will be processed at the recycling plant operated by Revolt Ett in Sweden, utilizing Northvolt's hydromet technology to regain battery-grade materials like lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt.

These recovered materials will then be supplied to Northvolt's adjacent cathode active material production facilities, providing essential support for on-site battery manufacturing. Once fully operational, Northvolt's Revolt Ett facility will have the capacity to process 125,000 tons of black mass annually, effectively meeting approximately half of Northvolt Ett's raw material requirements for cathode production.

The Hamburg facility, inaugurated by Dr. Peter Tschentscher, the First Mayor of Hamburg, is designated to receive battery packs and modules sourced from the European EV market, with Northvolt ensuring their availability. Beyond end-of-life battery packs of diverse designs, the facility is also equipped to accept and process battery packs that have been recalled from the market.

Northvolt's Chief Environmental Officer, Emma Nehrenheim, highlights the pivotal role of effective battery recycling in promoting the sustainability of the electric vehicle revolution. Murat Bayram, Director at EMR, underscores the importance of collaboration in establishing a circular supply chain for the valuable materials used in EV battery production. The initiative aligns with EMR's commitment to sustainability and resource conservation.