Altilium commences construction of UK’s first at-scale EV battery recycling and refining plant in Plymouth
The advanced facility will recycle materials from 24,000 EVs annually, recovering critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and graphite. Using Altilium’s proprietary EcoCathode process, battery scrap will be transformed into Nickel Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) and Lithium Sulfate, essential intermediates for domestic battery cathode production. Construction has begun on the 4-acre site, with engineering design completed by Hatch, a global consultancy. The plant will provide insights into materials handling, scalability, process optimization, and environmental compliance, paving the way for Altilium’s planned ACT 4 mega-scale refinery later this decade.
The U.K. currently relies on international markets for critical battery materials vital for decarbonization. Research from the U.K. Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre indicates that by 2030, the U.K. may require up to 40% of global lithium production and 30% of global graphite production to meet demand from its battery sector. Altilium’s recycling efforts aim to create a sustainable domestic supply chain, reducing dependence on imports and lowering carbon emissions. Partners, including ABB, are supporting the scale-up.
Dr. Christian Marston, Altilium’s Chief Operating Officer, stated: “Our ACT 3 site marks the next phase in Altilium’s mission to close the loop on battery materials here in Britain. We are proud to be building this scale-up facility here in Plymouth, which will be a cornerstone of the UK’s EV battery supply chain.” He emphasized the strategic approach to scaling this industry, fostering local value and creating skilled, sustainable jobs.
Unlike existing U.K. battery recycling, which focuses on shredding and producing black mass, Altilium’s advanced hydrometallurgical refining retains valuable metals like lithium and nickel domestically. This supports job creation and supplies battery-grade materials for the U.K.’s EV and gigafactory sectors.
Altilium’s growth strategy includes multiple phases: ACT 1, a Technology Centre in Devon for developing the EcoCathode process; ACT 2, a pilot line processing one EV battery daily to validate materials with automakers; ACT 3, the Plymouth scale-up plant; and ACT 4, a future mega-scale refinery producing battery metal salts and cathode active materials for U.K. gigafactories.
