The ACT 3 scale-up plant will have the capacity to recover critical battery minerals, including lithium, nickel and graphite, from 24,000 EVs per year.
Recycling EV Batteries Using EcoCathode Process
Using Altilium’s proprietary EcoCathode process, battery scrap will be recycled into Nickel Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) and Lithium Sulphate. These are critical intermediate materials for domestic production of battery cathodes.
Engineering Design and Sustainability Learning
The engineering design work on the site has been completed by global engineering consultancy Hatch.
The plant will provide leanings around materials handling, scalability and process optimisation.
This is as well as sustainability and environmental compliance, as part of a clear scale-up pathway for construction of Altilium’s planned ACT 4 mega-scale refinery later this decade.
Strengthening the UK Battery Supply Chain
Dr Christian Marston, Altilium COO, said: "Our ACT 3 site marks the next phase in Altilium’s mission to close the loop on battery materials here in Britain.
"We are proud to be building this scale-up facility here in Plymouth, which will be a cornerstone of the UK’s EV battery supply chain. This is about taking a strategic and incremental approach to scaling a vital new industry, one that ensures value stays in the country and creates long-term skilled green jobs.”
