Iberdrola, Glencore and FCC Ámbito have partnered to provide lithium-ion battery circularity solutions for Spain and Portugal.
The aim is to establish a purpose-built facility for recycling lithium-ion batteries, which would include second life repurposing as well as end-of-life recycling solutions.
FCC Ámbito, a subsidiary of FCC Servicios Medio Ambiente, provides industrial and commercial waste management services.
Together, the parties intend to combine their respective experience and expertise to offer comprehensive recycling and second life solutions for lithium-ion batteries, both from gigafactory production scrap and end-of-life batteries.
In collaboration with the Iberian Energy Storage Research Centre (CIIAE, Centro Ibérico de Investigación en Almacenamiento Energético), the partners have assessed existing battery recycling capabilities and feed availability in the region.
They continue to work towards identifying the location for the recycling facility, which will be supported by sector leading technology.
The facility will be operated by FCC Ámbito and will focus on the pre-processing of lithium-ion batteries and battery scrap, separating such feed into distinct streams for further downstream refining and recovery of battery metals.
The recycling of battery materials is expected to reach 35,000 tonnes annually in Spain by 2035 including production scrap.
María Kaifer, Technical Director and Head of Circular Economy, FCC Ámbito, said: “With this collaboration, our firm continues to pursue its strategic growth objectives, which it has been working on, such as the development of recycling solutions for materials from the energy transition.
“This is one step forward in our efforts to recover the resources that contain waste and to minimise the dependence on raw materials.
“The recycling of lithium-ion batteries is a challenge that we face together with two leading companies in their sectors, Iberdrola and Glencore, in order to join efforts to guarantee the recycling capabilities of the chain.”