Clear-Cut Opportunities in Battery Recycling

By the end of 2020, 17.6 GWh of Li-ion batteries had reached their end of life; by 2035, this figure will grow to more than 140 GWh. Our latest report analyzes key drivers and barriers for the adoption of battery recycling today.

More than 100 GWh of Li-ion batteries were deployed in BEVs and PHEVs in 2020, and that number is expanding rapidly. As those batteries reach their end of life, they represent a large environmental risk and contain valuable metals that can be recovered via recycling. However, existing battery recycling infrastructure is not optimized to either handle end-of-life battery capacity or meet critical materials demands placed on the market as electrification ramps up.

Energy storage technologies, particularly Li-ion batteries will continue to see high levels of adoption across the automotive sector but also to provide stationary storage for renewables. Most battery recycling efforts of the past offered low recovery rates for cathode active materials while using unsustainable amounts of energy and chemicals, newer approaches promise to set a new bar for large-scale recycling. While China’s dominance in battery manufacturing gives it a head start in recycling, North America and Europe are seeing increasing capacities to ensure future materials security by establishing a local recycling infrastructure.

In our report, “Clear-Cut Opportunities in Battery Recycling”, we cover key drivers and barriers for the adoption of battery recycling today and evaluate battery recycling opportunities for chemicals and material companies, cathode manufacturers, and automotive OEMs. We also take a closer look at emerging startups and where they fit along the traditional battery value chain.

Download the white paper to learn more.