On December 1, 2025, Accurec-Recycling GmbH officially commissioned a pioneering lithium recovery facility in Krefeld, North Rhine-Westphalia. The event, attended by EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall, marked the launch of what the company describes as Europe’s first industrial-scale plant capable of extracting lithium from all types of spent lithium-ion batteries.
Global demand for lithium-ion batteries has surged, driven by growth in household appliances, electric mobility and stationary energy storage. While Asia currently dominates recycling processes—benefiting from vertically integrated systems and government subsidies—Accurec has developed an alternative approach tailored to European conditions.
The newly installed thermochemical process, known as CLIMA (Critical Raw Materials Recovery from Li-Battery Waste Management), transforms battery waste into a form that allows efficient separation and extraction of critical materials. According to Accurec, the method delivers lithium yields and purities exceeding 99 percent. By recovering valuable raw materials domestically, the company aims to strengthen Europe’s resource resilience and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
Accurec has a three-decade track record in recycling various battery chemistries, including nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion. The firm’s in-house engineering team is responsible for designing, constructing and operating each recycling plant, with a focus on energy efficiency, cost competitiveness and environmental performance.
A key component of the new facility was developed in collaboration with Evonik as part of the EarLi* research project, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs. This module employs a highly selective ceramic membrane in an electrochemical process to isolate lithium as high-purity lithium hydroxide monohydrate. Evonik’s ceramic ion-conductor technology is expected to enhance recovery rates while minimizing energy consumption.
Looking ahead, Accurec plans to scale up the CLIMA process once all regulatory approvals are secured, with the goal of doubling its annual lithium output in the near term.
Source: Recycling Portal
