Europe’s largest electric vehicle battery recycling plant begins operations, Hydrovolt, a battery recycling joint venture between Northvolt and Hydro, has started commercial recycling operations at its plant in Fredrikstad in Norway. Hydrovolt is Europe’s largest electric vehicle battery recycling plant, with capacity to process 12,000 tonnes of battery packs on annual basis, corresponding to around 25,000 EV batteries. With the plant in operation, a sustainable solution for handling Norway’s entire volume of electric vehicle batteries reaching end-of-life is now available.

The fully automated recycling process at Hydrovolt enables up to 95% of battery metals to be recovered from batteries, including plastics, copper, aluminium and black mass, a powder containing metals of nickel, manganese, cobalt and lithium, which will be supplied to Northvolt for further recycling. Aluminium recovered through Hydrovolt will be delivered to Hydro for recirculation into commercial grade aluminium products. Several novel concepts designed to maximise recovery of materials are found within the plant, including a dust collection system which ensures valuable material typically lost through mechanical recycling steps is captured.

Hydrovolt is exploring an expansion of recycling capacity within Europe, with a long-term target to recycle 70,000 tonnes of battery packs by 2025 and 300,000 tonnes of battery packs by 2030, equivalent to approximately 150,000 EV batteries in 2025 and 500,000 in 2030.

From its plant in Fredrikstad in Norway, Hydrovolt will recycle car batteries reaching end-of-life. The plant has the capacity to process 12,000 tonnes of battery packs on annual basis, corresponding to around 25,000 EV batteries.

The recycling of batteries will contribute directly to the sustainability of the battery industry and is necessary for fulfilment of emerging European regulations governing batteries, including forthcoming mandatory recycling targets. The recovery of black mass will reduce today’s dependence on mining as a source for primary raw materials, and the associated risks and vulnerabilities of these activities.

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