Fortum Battery Recycling has received funding from Business Finland for a new test production facility for battery materials. The purpose of the facility is to pilot a new and more efficient method to produce cathode and anode materials, which are a central part of battery cells.
Compared to the conventional process, the patent-pending method enables faster and more energy-efficient production of cathode and anode materials. It is also more cost-efficient and does not generate harmful wastewater discharge. The process can also utilise recycled battery chemicals, such as lithium, produced at Fortum’s own hydrometallurgical recycling plant in Harjavalta. The process is suited for producing different cathode and anode materials, one of which is lithium titanium oxide (LTO).
“The market for lithium batteries and thus also cathode and anode materials will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years, and there is constant demand for new solutions. Safety, efficiency, and sustainability together with Europe-based production chains are key in this industry,” says Tero Holländer, Head of Fortum Battery Recycling.
“The planned test production facility might open a completely new market for Fortum Battery Recycling among battery cell manufacturers, and it is also an opportunity to develop the Finnish battery cell industry together with our partners. Ensuring customer satisfaction is essential to us, so we are working with our pilot customers – while also looking for new ones – to test and develop the LTO anode material and cathode materials to suit their needs,” Holländer continues.
The recycling of lithium batteries used in electric vehicles and the recovery of critical raw materials are part of the core operations of Fortum Recycling & Waste. Last spring, Fortum Battery Recycling began operations in the new hydrometallurgical recycling plant in Harjavalta, Finland, which recycles valuable metals used in the lithium batteries of electric vehicles as well as other battery production side streams.
More information:
Hetta Huittinen-Naskali, Head of News Desk,
hetta [dot] huittinen-naskali [at] fortum [dot] com (hetta[dot]huittinen-naskali[at]fortum[dot]com), tel. +358 40 033 9597
Maiju Daniel-Huhtaniska, Communications & Marketing Manager, Fortum Recycling & Waste,
maiju [dot] daniel-huhtaniska [at] fortum [dot] com (maiju[dot]daniel-huhtaniska[at]fortum[dot]com), tel. +358 50 350 2861
Fortum
Fortum is a Nordic energy company. Our purpose is to power a world where people, businesses and nature thrive together. We are one of the cleanest energy producers in Europe and our actions are guided by our ambitious environmental targets. We generate and deliver clean energy reliably and help industries to decarbonise their processes and grow. Our core operations in the Nordics comprise efficient, CO2-free power generation as well as reliable supply of electricity and district heat to private and business customers. For our ~5 000 employees, we commit to be a safe and inspiring workplace. Fortum's share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. fortum.com
Fortum Battery Recycling
Fortum Battery Recycling is part of the Fortum portfolio. Fortum Battery Recycling is a specialist in recycling of valuable metals in ev batteries. It’s low-CO2 battery recycling solution makes it possible to recycle over 80% of the battery with 95% of the valuable metals contained in the battery's black mass to be put back into circulation.