Fortum Battery Recycling leads the European market in sustainable battery recycling solutions, specializing in processing end-of-life electric vehicle batteries and battery production waste. Since 2016, the company has developed advanced recycling methods, establishing itself as a significant player in the circular economy for battery materials. Operating Europe’s largest closed-loop hydrometallurgical battery recycling facility in Finland, Fortum Battery Recycling provides complete solutions for every stage of the battery lifecycle, from collection and treatment to metal recovery and refinement.
Battery Technology
The company’s recycling process centers on its hydrometallurgical technology, which achieves recovery rates exceeding 95% for valuable metals from lithium-ion batteries. This method processes black mass – the powder containing critical battery metals – to produce high-purity materials suitable for new battery production.
The recycling process begins at mechanical processing facilities, where batteries undergo safe dismantling and material separation. The company’s facility in Kirchardt, Germany, handles pre-treatment operations, processing over 3,000 tonnes of batteries annually. The Ikaalinen plant in Finland manages mechanical processing, creating black mass that moves to the main hydrometallurgical facility in Harjavalta.
At Harjavalta, the advanced hydrometallurgical process extracts and purifies valuable metals like nickel, cobalt, and lithium. These recovered materials meet the strict quality requirements for new battery production, supporting a closed-loop system that reduces dependence on primary raw materials. The facility’s output includes nickel and cobalt sulfates and lithium hydroxide, essential components for manufacturing new lithium-ion batteries.
Recent Projects
In January 2024, Fortum Battery Recycling formed a strategic partnership with Marubeni Corporation to develop sustainable recycling solutions, focusing on graphite recovery. The company also received a 4.5 million euro grant to expand its mechanical processing capacity in Ikaalinen. Additionally, Fortum Battery Recycling has initiated the development of a new test production facility for cathode and anode materials, supported by Business Finland.
Investors
While specific investors in Fortum Battery Recycling are not publicly detailed, the company operates as part of Fortum Corporation, which trades on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company has secured significant funding through various channels, including grants from Business Finland and the European Union’s NextGenerationEU program. Recent strategic reviews by the parent company have positioned Fortum Battery Recycling for potential future development opportunities.
Business Details
Location: Espoo, Finland
Website: https://fortum.com/batteryrecycling
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fortum-battery-recycling/
