Fortum and Hydrovolt Forge Partnership to Advance Sustainable Battery Recycling
In a move to bolster Europe’s transition to clean energy, Finnish clean energy company Fortum and Norwegian battery recycler Hydrovolt have announced a new partnership focused on establishing a comprehensive, sustainable battery recycling process.
The collaboration involves a two-step approach:
Mechanical Pre-processing: Hydrovolt, a joint venture between Northvolt and Norsk Hydro, utilizes its expertise in mechanical recycling to break down electric vehicle (EV) batteries at its facility in Fredrikstad, Norway. This process transforms the batteries into a concentrated material known as “black mass.”
Hydrometallurgical Recovery: The black mass is then shipped to Fortum’s recycling plant in Harjavalta, Finland, where cutting-edge hydrometallurgical techniques are employed to extract valuable and critical metals from the material. These recovered metals are then reintroduced into the production cycle for creating new lithium-ion batteries.
This partnership not only leverages the individual strengths of each company but also aligns with the growing demand for sustainable battery practices. The new EU regulation on sustainable batteries mandates a gradual increase in the use of recycled materials within batteries, highlighting the crucial role of efficient recycling processes.
“We are thrilled to partner with Hydrovolt, a fellow pioneer in the battery recycling industry,” stated Tero Holländer, Head of Fortum Battery Recycling. “Collaboration is key to driving the industry forward, and we share a vision of providing safe, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for battery handling.”
Ole-Christen Enger, CEO of Hydrovolt, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the significance of the collaboration: “This partnership exemplifies the creation of circular solutions that pave the way for a more sustainable future. Together, we can set a leading example in the Nordics by championing sustainable battery recycling and closed-loop systems for securing critical raw materials.”
This collaboration between Fortum and Hydrovolt is a significant step towards establishing a closed-loop system for battery recycling in the Nordic region, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future for the electric vehicle industry.