Cylib, a German sustainable battery recycling company, has begun construction of a new industrial facility in Dormagen, Germany. The 236,000-square-foot facility is expected to be operational in 2026 with an annual recycling capacity of 30,000 tons of end-of-life batteries.
The plant’s strategic location at Currenta’s Chempark Dormagen in North Rhine-Westphalia provides optimal conditions for scaling up operations. Situated between Düsseldorf and Cologne, it offers efficient access to major European supply chains by rail, air, road, and water.
Cylib’s proprietary technology aims to set a new global standard for sustainability in battery recycling. The process recovers all elements from lithium-ion batteries, including lithium and graphite, using a water-based process. This approach reportedly reduces the environmental footprint by 30% compared to conventional recycling methods.
The company’s expansion is in line with the European Union’s Critical Raw Materials Act, which aims to ensure a reliable and sustainable supply of raw materials. cylib’s recycling process can recover seven of the EU’s strategically critical raw materials: lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum and copper.
This development comes after cylib secured what it describes as the largest round of funding for a European battery recycler to date. The new facility is expected to create approximately 170 jobs in the region.
Tim Hartmann, CEO of Currenta, expressed his support for the project, saying it was in line with the company’s goal to become Europe’s leading sustainable chemical park. Dr. Lilian Schwich, CEO and co-founder of cylib, emphasized the role of battery recycling in pioneering the circular economy.
The industrial scaling of cylib’s operations will make a significant contribution to Europe’s battery infrastructure and circular economy initiatives. It also aims to help battery manufacturers comply with EU regulations requiring the incorporation of recycled materials into new batteries.
Source: cylib News
