Clean technology group Altilium has launched its $\text{\textsterling}30$ million electric vehicle (EV) battery recycling facility in Plymouth. The group hosted a delegation of over 20 key investors and stakeholders at the opening of the site, named ACT 2. It is described as the UK’s first-of-a-kind pilot plant dedicated to the sustainable recovery of critical battery materials from end-of-life EV batteries.
Building on the company’s research and development work at its ACT 1 Technology Centre, the new 18,000 square foot facility will validate Altilium’s proprietary recycling processes at pilot scale. This will allow for the production and delivery of large volumes of battery grade samples for automotive customers.
The high-profile international attendees at the launch included senior executives from Altilium’s foundation investors, Marubeni Corporation and Mizuho Bank, as well as the Japan Organisation for Metals $\&$ Energy Security (JOGMEC), the Embassy of Japan, and Export Development Canada.
Key UK government and public sector funding bodies were also present, including senior representatives from the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), Innovate UK, The Department of Business $\&$ Trade (DBT), the National Wealth Fund (NWF), UK Export Finance, and Plymouth City Council. Public funding from the APC and Innovate UK has been instrumental in accelerating Altilium’s research and development and scale-up journey, helping to bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and commercialisation and supporting the construction of ACT 2.
Dr Christian Marston, Altilium COO, commented on the milestone: “We’re honoured to welcome so many distinguished guests here today to witness pilot-scale battery materials recycling in the UK. ACT 2 is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our incredible team and the unwavering support of our partners, who share our vision for a more sustainable future. Together, we’re showcasing how UK industrial policy, combined with public and private finance, can deliver the clean industries of the future.”
The ACT 2 pilot represents a crucial step in Altilium’s scale-up roadmap towards commercial deployment. It establishes the foundation for the company’s new ACT 3 facility, which is currently under construction in Plymouth, and its planned ACT 4 mega-scale recycling and cathode active materials (CAM) production plant. The latter is expected to result in the creation of more than 250 highly skilled jobs.
Image source: Altilium
