Car recycler EMR partners with Renewable Metals to set up material recovery plant in Birmingham, UK

The Australian startup Renewable Metals will set up a combined pre-processnig and material recovery plant for battery recycling at the UK-based car recycling company EMR's R&D site in Birmingham. As a part of the deal, EMR has also invested in Renewable Metals. The plant which is aimed at demonstrating the technology is based on a proprietary technology based on electrolysis.

The Belmont, Western Australia-based Renewable Metals has developed a , alkali-based recycling technology which has fewer steps than existing recycling routes for lithium-ion batteries. This process can deliver high recovery rates without producing sodium sulfate and is according the company better suited to handling the variability in chemistry of end-of-life lithium-Ion batteries. The two-stage process takes discharged battery modules, with the shredding and refining steps yielding LME grade nickel and copper, as well as cobalt, lithium and manganese salts, all of which can go directly back into the battery supply chain.

Renewable Metals will build both a shredding unit and the actual material recovery plant at EMR's R&D complex in Birmingham where EMR will expand its battery dismantling and discharge facility. The new plant is planned for commissioning in the first half of 2025, subject to permitting approvals.

EMR decided to enter the battery recycling business in 2021. So far the company, which has over 50 collection sites for scrap metal and end-of-life vehicles, has mainly been involved in dismantling and discharging. The company has also strong supply relationships with third party car dismantler which gives them a good position in collecting end-of-life batteries.

In Germany EMR has set up its first dedicated dismantling and discharging facility in partnership with the Swedish battery manufacturer and recycler Northvolt which will recycle EMR's batteries in northern continental Europe.

Our comment:

The partnership could be very important for both companies. EMR has a strong position in both UK and other countries with its strong relationsship with car dismantlers and its own car recycling business. For the sourcing of end-of-life batteries from EVs this will very important. The process developed by Renewable Metals is thought to be modular and not extremely capital intensive which can become very important in a growth scenario with many players but limited feedstock over the next decade.