Altilium and Talga Group Ltd have announced they are collaborating to advance green battery anode production in the UK.
This partnership aims to revolutionise the recycling process of electric vehicle (EV) batteries by recovering graphite for reuse in new battery anodes.
By embracing a circular economy model, the partnership seeks to reduce the UK’s dependence on imported raw materials while promoting sustainability within the EV battery industry.
Dr Christian Marston, Altilium President and COO, commented: “This breakthrough is a significant milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly future for electric vehicle batteries.
“We look forward to working with Talga to build a domestic, sustainable supply chain for low carbon graphite in the UK and leading the shift towards self-sufficiency and energy security.”
Addressing the growing demand for graphite
Graphite, constituting up to 50% of a lithium-ion battery by volume, plays a pivotal role in battery production.
With forecasts indicating a growing shortfall in graphite supply over the next decade and China controlling over 90% of the world’s graphite refinement, the shift towards self-sufficiency becomes imperative for the UK.
According to projections by the Advanced Propulsion Centre, UK battery anode demand for graphite is expected to surge, reaching 46,000 MT by 2027 and escalating to 95,000 MT by 2030.
The partnership signifies a significant stride towards establishing a sustainable domestic source of graphite for the UK’s EV battery industry.
Leveraging Altilium’s battery recycling expertise
Altilium is already at the forefront of recovering critical battery metals, including lithium, to produce cathode active materials (CAM) for direct reuse in the battery supply chain.
Until recently, graphite recycling had been largely overlooked, with emphasis placed on reclaiming cathode metals from battery scrap.
With the addition of graphite recovery, the company is poised to achieve full battery circularity, recycling all battery components efficiently.
Altilium’s proprietary recycling process boasts an impressive graphite recovery rate of over 99% from end-of-life EV batteries.
This breakthrough technology enables the return of valuable graphite resources back into the supply chain. Coupled with Talga’s green battery anode production technology, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions during EV production, the partnership underscores a commitment to environmental sustainability.
Under the agreement, Altilium and Talga will concentrate on optimising graphite recovery from battery waste to produce high-quality battery-grade graphite for use in new battery anodes.
Talga Group CEO Mr Martin Phillips added: “The need to secure a long-term, localised anode supply is crucial for the EV battery market. We are excited to work with Altilium in optimising the use of recycled graphite in active anode material to enable battery makers and automotive OEMs to reduce their CO2 footprint and to support the industry’s end-of-life battery recycling targets.”
Operational expansion and testing
Altilium will supply Talga with graphite recovered from EV battery waste at its Battery Recycling Technology Centre (ACT 1) in Tavistock and its new pilot plant in Plymouth (ACT 2), both situated in Devon.
Scheduled to commence operations later in 2024, these facilities will process significant volumes of CAM and battery precursors for qualification with OEMs and cell manufacturers.
Talga, utilising its patented chemical purification methods, will generate high-purity stock for the production of new anode active materials and conduct rigorous testing to ensure quality and performance.
Industry collaborations
Altilium is part of a recently announced £30m collaborative project backed by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) and spearheaded by Nissan.
This initiative involves working closely with Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) to recover graphite from spent Nissan Leaf batteries and production scrap, facilitating its reuse in new battery anodes.
Additionally, Altilium is focused on upcycling cathode metals to high nickel CAM, further advancing sustainability within the EV industry.
Moreover, Altilium’s planned Teesside recycling plant, with a capacity to recover 20,000 MT of graphite annually by 2030, is poised to meet over 20% of the UK’s demand.
The partnership between Altilium and Talga Group heralds a new era of sustainability and innovation within the EV battery industry.
By prioritising the recovery and reuse of critical materials, the collaboration aims to bolster the UK’s position as a leader in green technology while mitigating environmental impact.
