Europe expands lithium-ion battery recycling

With production of electric vehicles and stationary storage systems increasing, demand for lithium-ion battery recycling in Europe is expected to rise sharply. New recycling capacity is currently being built at a rapid pace across Europe. According to an analysis by the German research institute Fraunhofer, recycling lines for lithium-ion batteries with a total capacity of 400 000 tonnes per year are expected to come online by 2025. This capacity should be sufficient to handle the total volume of batteries reaching end of life.

The dynamics of the European market are driven primarily by the development of battery cell factories. According to European Union plans, European manufacturers should meet 90 % of demand for battery cells. This represents at least 550 GWh in 2030.

Factories generate large quantities of waste during operation, and recycling it enables materials to be reused in the production process. The same applies to end-of-life battery cells.