AE Elemental has inaugurated a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Zawiercie, Poland, capable of processing 12,000 metric tons of used batteries annually, equating to around 28,000 EV battery packs. This facility is one of the largest in Europe.
The EU mandates that new batteries must contain a minimum amount of recycled content by 2030, making this facility crucial for the EV supply chain. The recycling process will involve disassembling and shredding batteries to produce black mass for new battery materials.
Future expansions include adding lithium extraction capabilities by 2026 and plans for a larger facility in Germany with a capacity of 25,000 metric tons per year.