Librec has inaugurated its first battery recycling facility in Biberist, Solothurn, Switzerland, marking a significant advancement in sustainable battery management. The state-of-the-art plant is equipped to recycle used electric vehicle (EV) batteries and production waste from battery manufacturing, focusing initially on traction batteries used in the electromobility sector.
The newly established recycling plant boasts a remarkable recovery rate of over 97 percent, achieved through environmentally friendly processes. Librec emphasizes the exclusive use of renewable energy in its operations, contributing to a minimal carbon footprint of just 25 kilograms of CO2-equivalents per ton of processed battery material. The facility is situated on the premises of a former paper mill and features sustainable wooden construction, underscoring the company’s commitment to eco-friendly land use and building practices.
Librec has developed a comprehensive solution for recycling lithium-ion batteries, aiming to close the material loop for critical raw materials such as cobalt, lithium, nickel, copper, and aluminum. By recovering these materials, Librec facilitates their reintegration into the production of new batteries, thereby enhancing the sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of the entire electric vehicle ecosystem.
The Biberist facility has the capacity to process up to 12,000 tons of batteries annually, including end-of-life vehicle batteries and production scrap from both domestic and international sources. Currently operating a single shift with approximately 15 employees, Librec plans to gradually scale up to full capacity by implementing a three-shift system as the volume of used batteries increases in the coming months and years. Jodok Reinhardt, CEO of Librec, stated, “We are receiving very good feedback on our central recyclate, the so-called black mass, and can assume that we are currently producing the best black mass in Europe under the most attractive conditions and with maximum sustainability.”
Looking ahead, Librec is exploring opportunities to establish additional recycling sites across Europe in collaboration with international partners from the battery industry. “Next, we want to consolidate operations in Biberist and make maximum use of their capacity. On the basis of this experience, we will examine attractive partners for cooperation abroad and also our own projects abroad,” says Jürg Steiger, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Librec.
Source: Erneuerbare Energien
