Currently, recycling plants in Europe have a capacity of approximately 30,000 - 40,000 tonnes of LIBs per year [1], with the biggest facilities in Germany (Redux, Accurec, Duesenfeld, Volkswagen), Belgium (Umicore), Finland (Akkuser) and France (EDI, SNAM). Since profitability of LIB recycling is difficult to achieve, portable batteries used to be exported to China and South Korea. In 2018 China banned the import of waste from the EU, but many EoL LIBs are still being sent to South Korea [2].

 

Nevertheless, recycling capacity in Europe appears sufficient to treat EoL LIBs in the coming years. With the surge of EVs, new business models are emerging to increase sustainability of battery production: cell manufacturers (e.g. Northvolt) and EV makers (e.g. Volkswagen) are stepping in to build up recycling capabilities. Recyclers are in favour of more strict collection and recycling targets. Some are capable of achieving recycling efficiencies above 80% [3], while the current EU regulation requirement is just 50%.

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References

[1]    Elementenergy, “Batteries on wheels,” 2019.
[2]    C. Early, “What China’s waste import ban has meant for the West.” https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/11816-What-China-s-waste-import-ban-has-meant-for-the-West (accessed Apr. 19, 2020).
[3]    U. Gupta, “Innovation boosts lithium-ion battery recycling rate to over 80%,” pv magazine International, Mar. 25, 2019. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/03/25/innovation-boosts-lithium-ion-battery-recycling-rate-to-over-80/ (accessed Apr. 16, 2020).
[4]    R. Danino-Perraud, “The Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Strategic Pillar for the European Battery Alliance,” IFRI, Mar. 2020.
[5]    A. Charlish and Z. Shabalala, “Belgium’s Umicore plans to ramp up EV battery recycling capacity: CEO,” Reuters, Reuters, Aug. 02, 2018.
[6]    M. Kane, “Volkswagen To Recycle Lithium-Ion Batteries In Salzgitter,” InsideEVs, May 11, 2019. https://insideevs.com/news/349011/volkswagen-recycle-batteries-salzgitter/ (accessed Apr. 15, 2020).
[7]    “Recycling electric car batteries | Veolia.” https://www.planet.veolia.com/en/recycling-electric-car-batteries-renault (accessed Apr. 15, 2020).
[8]    O. Velázquez-Martínez, J. Valio, A. Santasalo-Aarnio, M. Reuter, and R. Serna-Guerrero, “A Critical Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Processes from a Circular Economy Perspective,” Batteries, vol. 5, no. 4, p. 68, Nov. 2019, Accessed: Apr. 15, 2020. [Online].