Agreement paves means for a sustainable, closed-loop provide of home lithium-ion battery supplies in the United States
WESTBOROUGH, Mass., Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Ascend Elements, a Massachusetts-based battery recycling and engineered supplies firm, and EcoPro Group, a number one South Korean battery supplies firm, in the present day introduced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) settlement to cooperate within the improvement, qualification, and integration of recycled battery supplies into EcoPro’s cathode merchandise.
EcoPro is a cathode energetic materials (CAM) provider to among the largest EV battery producers in North America whereas Ascend Elements recycles EV batteries and battery manufacturing scrap from many sources, together with the SK Battery America (SKBA) facility in Commerce, Ga. Beyond EV battery recycling, Ascend Elements additionally transforms recycled batteries and manufacturing scrap into new, sustainable cathode precursor. With this settlement, Ascend Elements will provide recycled battery supplies to EcoPro, which can convert the fabric into battery-ready, high-performance CAM for its battery manufacturing shoppers.
“This is one of the first North American examples of a truly circular battery economy,” stated Michael O’Kronley, CEO of Ascend Elements. “Currently, battery manufacturing scrap is the largest source of lithium-ion battery materials available for recycling. We’re not only recycling this scrap material and keeping it out landfills, we’re elevating the value of the material by engineering it to meet EcoPro’s precise specifications.”
“Creating a circular economy by recycling the materials from scrap batteries is extremely important in our quest for sustainability. By closing the loop to reuse the materials for new cathode active materials production is the key component for a greener future. Partnering with Ascend Elements, beginning in 2023, for pre-treatment of upstream materials in North America is a step closer to achieving our goals,” stated Sangwook Park, Strategic Planning VP of EcoPro.
By utilizing recycled battery supplies as an alternative of newly mined supplies, battery producers can considerably scale back the local weather influence of EV battery manufacturing. Additionally, cathode precursor made in the United States from recycled lithium-ion batteries is taken into account a home supply of battery supplies underneath the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.
Ascend Elements makes use of its modern Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis course of to remodel black mass into sustainable, high-performance precursor and CAM that rival or exceed the efficiency of cathode supplies made with virgin metals. The course of can get better up to 98% of crucial battery parts with decrease carbon emissions in contrast to conventional cathode manufacturing strategies.
The firm not too long ago introduced plans to make investments up to $1 billion to construct a sustainable lithium-ion battery supplies facility in Hopkinsville, Ky. The first-of-its-kind manufacturing facility, often known as “Apex 1”, will produce sufficient lithium-ion battery precursor and sustainable CAM to equip up to 250,000 electrical automobiles per yr.
About EcoPro
Since its founding in 1998, EcoPro Co., Ltd. is made up of two companies that had succeeded in growing eco-friendly core supplies and parts associated to air air pollution management and localizing key secondary battery supplies which might be extremely depending on imports. In May 2016, “EcoPro BM” was cut up off to specialize within the cathode materials business, growing high-nickel cathode materials and main the worldwide market in such merchandise. In addition, in May 2021, so as to concentrate on Atmospheric Environment, it has spun off its personnel division into “EcoPro HN,” receiving the primary “Environmental Product Declaration” within the chemical filter trade, thus turning into an unequalled complete environmental firm in Korea. Currently, EcoPro Group has an ideal closed-loop battery recycling system and cathode manufacturing services in Pohang, the place the scrap batteries are recycled to lithium hydroxide, precursor provide and cathode materials manufacturing.
About Ascend Elements
Based in Westborough, Mass., Ascend Elements is the main supplier of sustainable, closed-loop battery materials options. From EV battery recycling to commercial-scale manufacturing of lithium-ion battery precursor (pCAM) and cathode energetic supplies (CAM), Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the manufacturing of sustainable lithium-ion battery supplies. Its Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis know-how produces new CAM from spent lithium-ion cells extra effectively than conventional strategies, leading to diminished value, improved efficiency, and lowered GHG emissions. With fewer batteries going to landfill and a cleaner manufacturing course of, Ascend Elements is taking the lithium-ion battery trade to a better degree of sustainability.
SOURCE Ascend Elements
