Li-Cycle today announced Veolia Water Technologies as a partner for its lithium-ion battery recycling plant in Rochester, New York. The facility will help give life back to the equivalent of approximately 225,000 electric vehicle batteries per year by utilizing Veolia’s HPD® crystallization technology to process recycled lithium-ion battery materials.

As the global demand for cleaner, battery-based energy storage systems and electric vehicles is on the rise, so too is the need for sustainable solutions to recover the valuable materials inside them. 

Veolia’s HPD crystallization technology is key in a final stage of the battery recycling process as it allows to optimize the creation of nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate from lithium-ion batteries, and transform them into high-purity raw materials, ready to be used in new batteries. Li-Cycle will utilize Veolia’s HPD crystallizers to produce approximately 42,000 to 48,000 Metric tons per year of nickel sulfate and 6,500 to 7,500 Metric tons per year of cobalt sulfate that can then be resold to battery manufacturers – ultimately giving the original battery materials a new life. When fully operational in 2023, the Rochester facility will help create a sustainable, circular economy for lithium-ion batteries.

“At Li-Cycle, we are committed to doing our part to create a safer, cleaner, and healthier world by striving to create a truly closed-loop lithium-ion battery supply chain to address these global challenges,” said Ajay Kochhar, Chief Executive Officer of Li-Cycle.

“Veolia is looking forward to partnering with Li-Cycle to help recover critical materials from lithium-ion batteries, so they can be reintroduced back into the supply chain,” said Vincent Caillaud, CEO of Veolia Water Technologies. “At Veolia, we apply our know-how in developing and adapting leading-edge technologies that contribute to the recovery of critical metals and components from end-of-life products. We have vast experience in the lithium production industry where we enjoy a technology leadership position and will now apply our expertise in crystallization to battery recycling. Active throughout the entire value chain of battery recycling, Veolia is proud to take another step forward towards building a circular economy for lithium-ion batteries.”