Battery development and production are critical for Europe in the context of clean energy and automotive transition. The EU could account for 17% of global lithium-ion battery demand by 2030, the second-highest share worldwide.
To tackle this challenge, the EU has proposed a new Sustainable Batteries Regulation as part of its wider strategy for a climate-neutral, resource-efficient economy.
As the executive vice president for the Green Deal, Frans Timmermans is leading initiatives for the EU to become the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.
SK Tes is committed to improving battery collection and recycling in Europe. The new Port of Rotterdam facility supports the EU’s Green Deal. Facilities in Grenoble (France) and Singapore are being extended, and SK Tes plans to have the Rotterdam site operational by end of 2022.
The 10,000-square-meter facility can extend to 40,000 square meters. It will be the first lithium battery recycling plant in the Netherlands, starting at 10,000 tonnes of shredding capacity, with plans to expand to 25,000 tonnes annually. It integrates an award-winning hydrometallurgical process recovering nickel, cobalt, and lithium.
Commenting on the visit, Thomas Holberg, Global Vice President of SK Tes Sustainable Battery Solutions, said: “Our mission at SK Tes is to ‘close the loop’ on lithium battery production by encouraging reuse and improving collection and recycling of scarce materials. After discussions with Frans Timmermans, we are even more committed to the role battery recycling plays in the Green Deal.”
SK Tes is also commissioning a battery recycling site in Shanghai and plans to open facilities globally, using proprietary technology developed at its flagship site in Singapore.
From left to right: Frans Timmermans, Gary Steele, Thomas Holberg, Henny van Dort, Allard Castelein