Shown above is the impressive head office of SK ecoplant located in South Korea. In an exciting development, SK ecoplant and Ascend Elements have collaborated to establish a state-of-the-art recycling facility for electric car batteries in the United States. Photo courtesy of SK ecoplant.
Sept. 26 (UPI) — South Korea’s leading company, SK ecoplant, has recently entered into a partnership with Ascend Elements, a prominent U.S. organization, to embark on a joint venture aimed at recycling waste batteries.
In an effort to promote sustainability and address environmental concerns, this partnership will witness a total investment of $65.8 million towards the establishment of a cutting-edge pre-treatment facility in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
SK ecoplant has elaborated on the functions of the factory, which will be responsible for the secure disassembly and shredding of scraps and byproducts generated during the electric vehicle manufacturing process. Furthermore, the facility will also play a crucial role in the extraction of black mass, an essential component in the production of raw materials for batteries.
The construction project is expected to commence later this year, with operations commencing in early 2025. The factory will have an annual capacity of 12,000 tons of black mass, signifying a significant step towards sustainable battery recycling.
In addition to this collaboration, Ascend Elements is concurrently establishing North America’s inaugural cathode material precursor plant, with the capability to supply this critical substance to an impressive 750,000 electric vehicles each year.
Founded in 2015, Ascend Elements has consistently been at the forefront of innovative technologies for extracting rare metals from waste batteries.
SK ecoplant CEO, Park Kyung-il, expressed his enthusiasm for the joint venture, stating, “We have dedicated substantial efforts to internalize technology throughout the entire waste battery recycling process and establish major facilities worldwide. With the establishment of this factory through our partnership, we will successfully acquire a competitive edge within the waste battery industry. Leveraging this foundation, we are confident in asserting our dominance in the global waste battery market.”
The market for recycling electric vehicle batteries is anticipated to experience exponential growth. Industry experts are predicting a substantial surge in battery waste as electric cars become increasingly popular, emphasizing the need for proactive and innovative solutions. Daelim University automotive professor, Kim Pil-soo, highlights the urgency of addressing this issue, “The popularity of electric cars will lead to a lot of battery waste in the not-so-distant future, forcing us to figure out a way to proactively deal with the issue,” as reported by UPI News Korea.
