Finland – Fortum Battery Recycling and Hydrovolt have joined forces to advance sustainable practices in the battery industry, marking a significant step towards establishing a closed-loop system for lithium-ion batteries.
The primary goal of the partnership between Fortum and Hydrovolt is to drive efficiency and sustainability in lithium-ion battery recycling. By leveraging Hydrovolt’s unique dry-environment process for mechanical recycling of EV batteries and Fortum’s cutting-edge hydrometallurgical process for further material recovery, the collaboration seeks to close the loop in the battery value chain. Ultimately, the recycled materials are reintegrated into the production of new lithium-ion batteries, reducing the reliance on virgin materials and minimizing environmental impact.
Combining processes
Hydrovolt’s mechanical recycling process, employed at its industrial plant in Fredrikstad, Norway, transforms end-of-life EV batteries into black mass. This material is then transported to Fortum’s hydrometallurgical plant in Harjavalta, Finland, where advanced processes recover valuable metals from the black mass. The combination of mechanical and hydrometallurgical techniques ensures efficient and sustainable recovery of critical metals, including lithium, cobalt, and nickel, essential for the production of new batteries.
