Page 164 - CW E-Magazine (8-10-2024)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

CIRCULAR ECONOMY graphite play a pivotal role in shaping who remain concerned over the infl ux
AE Elemental opens lithium-ion battery recycling the overall cost structure of Li-ion bat- of low-cost EVs from China, in part
teries. As these materials are core com-
enabled through low-cost LFP batteries.
facility in Poland ponents of a battery cell, their market Despite the challenges ahead, the
dynamics directly affect battery pricing
trends. medium-long-term outlook for the
AE Elemental, a joint venture Li-ion market remains positive, with
of US-based battery materials fi rm, Supply and demand dynamics are considerable growth opportunities
Ascend Elements and Poland-based critical to battery pricing. For exam- across the supply chain, according to
Elemental Strategic Metals, have opened ple, LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) the report. “There continues to be broad
its fi rst commercial-scale electric type Li-ion batteries are widely used policy support for both EVs and renew-
vehicle (EV) battery recycling facility. due to their comparatively low cost able deployment, both of which rely
compared to NMC (Nickel Manganese margins for producers and highlighting heavily on Li-ion battery technology.
Located in Zawiercie, Poland, the Cobalt)-based battery chemistries but the strong competition in LFP produc- Policy and regulation, including the US
newly constructed facility can process in 2022, LFP cathode prices increased tion in a trend seen more broadly across Infl ation Reduction Act and emissions
12,000-tpa of used Li-ion batteries – faster than expected based on underly- the industry. performance standards in Europe, and
or approximately 28,000 EV battery packs ing lithium and material prices due to a technological advancements will conti-
annually – making it one of the largest surge in demand, especially in China. While low battery prices are bene- nue to create stable demand for EVs
battery recycling facilities in Europe. This led to a fast rise in LFP cathode fi cial to consumers, they can curb new outside of China while increasing
production capacity in China and investment and creates a challenging deployment of renewable power will
overcapacity through 2023 and 2024. environment for new entrants, an is- continue to drive the adoption of energy
As demand for EVs continues to Subsequently, LFP cathode prices have sue more keenly felt by European and and battery storage systems,” the report
grow, lithium-ion battery recycling is fallen to as low as $5/kg, squeezing North American battery industries added.
becoming an increasingly important
part of the EV battery materials supply Ascend Elements, representing our fi rst INVESTMENT
chain. In the European Union (EU), commercial-scale battery recycling
new batteries will be required to contain facility in Europe. Expanding into Canada’s Woodland Biofuels plans $1.35-bn renew-
a minimum amount of recycled content Europe will allow us to better service
by 2030. Lithium-ion battery recycling our customers locally and help the able natural gas and green hydrogen project in US
also keeps hazardous battery materials industry comply with new EU rules
out of landfi lls while minimising the requiring recycled material in new Woodland Biofuels Inc., a Toronto-
environmental impacts associated with batteries,” said Mr. Mike O’Kronley, based company, has announced a
nickel, cobalt and lithium mining. CEO of Ascend Elements. $1.35-bn investment at the Port of
South Louisiana (US) to create “the
The AE Elemental facility will Beyond Poland, the JV is planning world’s largest carbon negative”
disassemble, discharge and shred EV to build Europe’s largest lithium-ion renewable natural gas (RNG) and
batteries to produce black mass, which lithium extraction capabilities will be battery recycling facility in Germany. “ultra-green” hydrogen facility.
can be used to make new engineered added to the new facility later this year The planned AE Elemental facility
EV battery materials, including cath- and will be operational by 2026. will have the capacity to recycle up to The RNG facility will be built in the
ode active material (CAM) and cathode 25,000 metric tons of batteries per year, fi rst phase expected to begin operations
precursor (pCAM). Commercial-scale “This is a signifi cant milestone for or approximately 58,000 EVs annually. in 2028 while the green hydrogen plant
will be set up in the second phase.
FUTURE TRENDS
New report examines impact of falling battery costs biomass to produce sustainable biofuel
The company will utilise waste
on Li-ion battery market used in transportation, heating and
electricity generation. from the atmosphere annually and store of CO annually. Once both stages are
2
A new report from UK-based mar- outlooks and forecasts”, expects the ward trend, the report also outlines how it safely underground. Phase 1 is ex- completely functional, the project is
ket intelligence fi rm, IDTechEx on lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cell market this will affect the Li-ion battery market The company expects to perma- pected to permanently remove 210,000 expected to be one of the largest CO
2
‘Li-ion battery market 2025-2035: to reach over $400-bn by 2035. With in the long term. The cost of raw mate- nently remove hundreds of thousands tonnes of CO annually. Phase 2 will removal projects globally, according to
2
Technologies, players, applications, battery prices continuing their down- rials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and of tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO ) remove approximately 660,000 tonnes the company.
2
164 Chemical Weekly October 8, 2024 Chemical Weekly October 8, 2024 165

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